Executive Connections » News & Events | Executive Connections

Promotion Announcement – Rosy Kennedy, Senior Accountancy Recruitment Consultant

client — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 10:34:38 +0000

Executive Connections are delighted to announce the promotion of Rosy Kennedy to Senior Recruitment Consultant on our Accountancy & Finance team.

Rosy joined Executive Connections in 2016 as a Recruitment Consultant within our Accountancy & Finance division. Since then she has become a valuable asset to the Executive Connections’ team operating at the highest standard, impressing clients, candidates and colleagues. She has gained an excellent industry reputation, specialising within the Financial Services sector predominately within Insurance, Asset Management & Fund Administration.

She has a proven track record in meeting the requirements of both her clients & candidates, matching a particular skill set to a particular role for mid – senior roles with particular recent success in roles including Financial Operations Manager, Head of Internal Audit, Internal Audit Specialist, Senior Financial Accountant, Financial Reporting Team Lead.

Having worked within the recruitment industry since September 2015, Rosy prides herself in building long term relationships with both her clients and candidates. Rosy enjoys having the opportunity to meet with different people, manage expectations and advise on market trends from initial meeting to successfully placing candidates within a role, ensuring a high quality service throughout the process.

What sets Rosy apart is the exclusive partnerships she builds with candidates and customers, acting as a trusted advisor at each stage of the recruitment process. This level of service means she is forging a powerful reputation in the financial arena in Dublin and we are delighted to have her as part of the Executive Connections team.

Rosy is one to watch, one to engage for resourcing and one to work with to secure your next career move.

Call Rosy now on 01-6618740 or email your CV to rosy@executiveconnections.ie. View the Accountancy jobs Rosy is currently working on and apply here.

The post Promotion Announcement – Rosy Kennedy, Senior Accountancy Recruitment Consultant appeared first on Executive Connections.

ACCA Ireland Annual Chairman’s Lunch

client — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:15:12 +0000

Executive Connections are delighted to sponsor this year’s ACCA Ireland Annual Chairman’s Lunch on Friday, March 24th, 2017.

The event takes place in President’s Hall, Blackhall Place, The Law Society of Ireland and will be hosted by Etain Doyle, ACCA Ireland Chair, FCCA.

Speaking on the day is Kingsley Aikins, who will talk about the critical importance of trusted relationships in a world of ever increasing change and diminishing trust and what is involved in developing and strengthening these relationships and benefit business.

Kingsley Aikins is founder and CEO of Diaspora Matters, a Dublin based consultancy company that advises countries, cities, regions, companies and organisations on how to develop strategies to connect with their Diasporas. He has worked with over 30 countries helping them develop strategies and devise policies, projects and programmes. He believes all countries possess Diaspora Capital which he defines as the overseas resources available to a country, city, location or organisation and is made up of flows of people, finance and knowledge.

We look forward to a great afternoon with ACCA members and guests. Register for the event here.

The post ACCA Ireland Annual Chairman’s Lunch appeared first on Executive Connections.

Benefit from Brexit- CVs at the ready!

client — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 09:15:45 +0000

Ok, so at this point we’re probably all tired of hearing about Brexit and speculating its impending implications. The future of Canary Wharf in particular has been plunged into uncertainty, with the international banks still nursing a major migraine following last week’s referendum result. One thing is for sure however… we here in Ireland need to make the best of this bad bargain.

While all is yet to be confirmed, many of our friends across the pond have already begun to make plans around relocating some of their major functions. London’s Financial Services industry, like many others in Europe has always laid on the foundations of a flexible and free flowing travel band across the European continent. Removing this element was always going to be detrimental to its future.

Word on the street has it that big banks are most interested in three major financial hubs across Europe, Paris, Frankfurt and most importantly for us DUBLIN! The jobs market in Financial Services in Ireland has been nicely buoyant for the last 12-18 months. Many of the leading international banks are already at home here in well established, large operations. Following on from last week, Dublin could find itself home to more and more job opportunities and much sooner than we once thought. As a result of this we need to plan ahead where possible. Remember, the early bird catches the worm!

You may not be currently looking for a new job, but we are all candidates in this fast moving market. Not opening yourself to checking out new opportunities in your industry could be a huge setback in your career development plan. Now is the time to start thinking about what you want in your next step.

Below are some key tips to getting yourself and your profile in ship shape before our new neighbours arrive.

Planning

What do you want? What is your next step? What is most important to you in your job and what do you want for sure in your next one?
Be specific and realistic. We would all like a car allowance for a Ferrari and space to park it in but there are some more basic factors that are to be considered. Maybe its location, work / life balance, clearer reporting lines or a more collaborative environment. Write these down and discuss them with your recruiter later
What companies are you interested in? Take a look at the international banks in London and which ones are most likely to move to Dublin – what do you know about them? Who do you know that works for them and can they give you more insight? Try and be as informed as possible.

Action

LinkedIn is a good place to start and will help you gain more insight into how your market is performing and what movements your peers have been making of late.
Update your profile fully, list your skills and experience, make sure you have a photograph and your employers are listed.
Network – get out there and connect with the thought leaders in your space. Who is sharing the content you’re interested in?
Do a full review of your CV and update it in detail. Don’t worry about the length of your CV, your recruiter will assist you with trimming and formatting where necessary.

Proactivity

Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry, your peers and competitors. Combine this with your recruiter’s inside knowledge and expertise and you’ll be ahead of the game as new opportunities reach our shores.
I always remind candidate to be protective of your profile. You are individual in both your skillset and requirements. Bulk applying directly to employers is not the right approach to maximising from Brexit. Meet with your recruiter, plan your approach with them, leverage off their industry knowledge and direct insight into their clients plans for growth and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the right opportunities arise for you.

Executive Connections have specialised in Banking and Finance recruitment for over 25 years in Ireland and internationally. We have long standing relationships with many of the companies who will be affected by Brexit and our expert teams can assist you with all of the above, in preparation for a wealth of opportunity that this monumental event may produce.

Click here to view a list of current opportunities I am working on or contact me to discuss you next career move. Call me today on 01-6618740.

The post Benefit from Brexit- CVs at the ready! appeared first on Executive Connections.

Interview Preparation Workshop in collaboration with BITCI

client — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:26:19 +0000

At Executive Connections our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is a crucial component of our DNA and something that each member of our team is very passionate about. Using the collective expertise of all our employees, our overall aim since our company was founded in 1991 is to make a positive impact on society.

In recent months, we are thrilled to have partnered with Business in the Community Ireland who are Ireland’s only membership network dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.

As part of their EPIC Secure Work Programme, Executive Connections hosted an Interview Preparation and Presentation Workshop which was facilitated by Ciara Merriman (Executive Connections Recruitment Consultant) and Fiona O’Sullivan (Executive Connections, Head of People, Learning and Development). The event was hosted at Business in the Community offices on O’Connell St, Dublin 1. In an effort to help secure employment, the workshop covered a comprehensive overview of job seeking best practice and techniques to best prepare them for their search. Building a network, communicating their key skills effectively and selling and presenting at an interview were all included.

The event was a great success and all participants found the practical tips shared on the day to be of great value.

Speaking about the workshop Ciara said:

“I was delighted to be a part of the EPIC programme. To be able to share my knowledge in this area and help others was a pleasure. The group were great to work with; they are educated, with lots of great personalities and plenty of work experiences, I have no doubt that when they secure roles, they will add so much value to a workplace. I look forward to hearing about their progress following the programme.”

We would like to thank BITCI for giving us the opportunity to deliver the workshop and look forward to working with them in the future.

The post Interview Preparation Workshop in collaboration with BITCI appeared first on Executive Connections.

Giving back in 2016 to LauraLynn Ireland’s Children Hospice

client — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:40:54 +0000

Executive Connections have a strong history of giving back and so are delighted to announce our partnership with LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice for 2016.

The LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation was set up in 2001 by Jane and Brendan McKenna after their daughters, Laura four and 13-year-old Lynn, died within two years of each other. Their dream was to establish Ireland’s first children’s hospice, dedicated to the memory of their daughters, and they worked tirelessly raising funds to do this. In 2006 they merged with the Children’s Sunshine Home Hospice Project, and finally, in 2011, their dream was fulfilled with the opening of Laura Lynn House in 2011.

Staff members Fiona O’Sullivan and Owen McSweeney recently visited the LauraLynn House. Seeing first-hand the wonderful work this charity does with no direct government funding, we are eager to contribute to their fundraising efforts. Speaking after the visit Owen said:

“LauraLynn do amazing work with the children and families they work with. From the moment you walk in the door of LauraLynn house, you get an overwhelming feeling of how important a place it is to those who avail of their services. Through a number of initiatives throughout the year Executive Connections will be committed to contributing to this worthwhile charity and helping in any way we can.”

Already our staff members are coming together to come with fun, meaningful ways to make our partnership with this wonderful charity a success. Watch this space!

Subscribe here to keep up to date with all our latest news.

The post Giving back in 2016 to LauraLynn Ireland’s Children Hospice appeared first on Executive Connections.

Executive Connections shortlisted for Small Agency of the Year 2015/2016

Jennifer Whyte — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:06:22 +0000

Executive Connections have been shortlisted for Small Agency of the Year 2015/2016 as part of the National Recruitment Federation Annual Awards. The NRF is a voluntary organisation set up to establish and maintain standards and codes of practice for the Recruitment Industry in Ireland.

On the back of a successful year for Executive Connections it is great to be acknowledged in this category. We operate in a highly competitive sector and to be shortlisted makes for a great buzz around the office! The awards ceremony takes place tomorrow evening, December 4th int he Shelbourne Hotel and we are looking forward to the big night. We will let you know how we get on!

To keep up to date with all our latest updates, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.

The post Executive Connections shortlisted for Small Agency of the Year 2015/2016 appeared first on Executive Connections.

Executive Connections meet Dress for Sucess CEO Joi Gordon

client — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:24:49 +0000

In recent months, Executive Connections have partnered with Dress for Success, a charity which aims to empower women and help them return to the workforce. Today, Friday September 25th we were invited to meet global Dress for Success CEO Joi Gordon at a lunch during her visit to Dublin.

Our consultants have been actively involved in helping women return to work by supporting them in their job search as well as providing them with career advice and help with interview preparation and so we were delighted to be able to meet Joi who has worked with the charity for over 17 years. With 142 centres worldwide Dress for Success are going from strength to strength. They have been in operation in Ireland for almost 5 years, helping over 1200 ladies return to the workforce. Such amazing work and we look forward to working with them further in the coming months.

Jamie and Jennifer were in attendance pictured below with Joi Gordon and some of the Dublin volunteers.

The post Executive Connections meet Dress for Sucess CEO Joi Gordon appeared first on Executive Connections.

6 benefits of Partnering with a Recruitment Agency

client — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 09:51:15 +0000

Many SMEs can sometimes be reluctant to hire a recruitment agency, citing cost as the number one reason not to. While a recruitment fee is unavoidable when using an agency, it’s money well spent when you weigh everything up. The financial (and reputational) impact of a bad hire, plus the drain on resources when trying to manage the hiring process internally, will always cost way more.

There are several benefits of using a recruitment agency to fill a job vacancy are many and and here are our top 6.

1. Strong network of candidates

Chances are that when you decide to increase headcount, your network of people with relevant skills and experience is limited. By enlisting a recruitment agency you gain access to a wealth of candidates, most of whom are ready to make a career move and can be reached out to instantly. They will have undergone a stringent recruitment process meaning technical, educational and behavioural competencies will have been assessed. The agency will also have a good understanding of what the candidate wants from their next job and how an employer can best manage their ambitions, so that time is not wasted on unsuitable candidates.

2. Industry knowledge

Most recruitment consultants will specialise in a particular industry. Partnering with someone who has industry-specific knowledge means they are mindful of market trends, salary levels, benefits, and the latest skillsets required to be successful in your industry.

3. Candidates who are the right fit

At Executive Connections, we always get an in-depth knowledge of our clients – company history, case studies of great hires, company culture and all the elements that make your company a great place to work. We do this by visiting your company and meeting your team. This enables us to build a strong profile of your company for prospective employees but it also allows us to narrow our search and establish whether a person is the correct fit or not.

4. Time and cost savings

There’s no denying that the hiring process can be a big drain on time and finances – from assessing headcount requirements, writing a job specification and advertising your position. Then there’s managing the process – from filtering CV’s and screening candidates to scheduling interviews and notifying unsuccessful applicants. Even after all that you still may not find the right person! Handing over these tasks to someone who does this everyday makes perfect sense.

5. An advisor and partner for your business

While a recruitment agency’s main role is to source the best talent for your business, it offers more than that. Using their expert knowledge and vast experience, some agency’s will advise on human resources issues, employee engagement practices, appraisal writing as well as offer recruitment coaching for non-HR managers .

6. A more streamlined hiring process

Remember recruitment agencies are specialists in their field and are employed to take the pain out of the recruitment process. Each step is managed on your behalf as efficiently as possible – interview scheduling, contract exchange, engaging with unsuccessful applications, and ensuring they adapt well to their new environment. When you partner with an agency you deal with one point of contact throughout, ensuring a more efficient and streamlined hiring process.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with us should you require advice on hiring, Human Resources issues or would simply like to speak about a vacancy within your business. Call us on 01-6618740 or email info@executiveconnections.ie

The post 6 benefits of Partnering with a Recruitment Agency appeared first on Executive Connections.

The 5 Interview Questions You Should always Ask Potential Employees

Hilarie Geary — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:41:06 +0000

At the beginning of the year we predicted a war on talent as vacancies across a number of sectors began to show signs of real growth. At Executive Connections we have seen this come to fruition with a noticeable increase in the number of companies adding to their staff. Effective interviewing for a vacancy has become more important than ever – asking the right questions will help you make the right hiring decisions more consistently and save on costly bad hires. Here’s our top 5 interview questions you should be putting to potential employees to determine their suitability for your business:

1. Why do you want to work here?

With this question you get a strong idea of the research a prospective employee has put into learning about your business and how enthusiastic they are to work for your company. This is their opportunity to show how well they know your company, their understanding of your products, services and culture and why they want to be a part of your business specifically and not just take any job. This is where genuine enthusiasm can shine through. Make note of those who have gone that extra mile and sought information beyond the company website. I’m always impressed if someone can reference something about my company from a newspaper article or guest blog post or how we stack up against the competition.

2. Where do you want to be in 5 years?

This question will tell you a lot about a person’s drive and career aspirations. The ideal candidate should see a job opening as a valuable career move with progression being a key factor. This question will also help determine whether their individual goals relate to the organisation’s. Are their career aspirations in line with how you would like your business to grow and succeed? Will the company be able to sufficiently motivate them?

3.How would you make an immediate impact on the business?

As hiring manager or director of a company, constant progression should be at the heart of your business goals. Hiring someone who can help take your company to the next level should be top of your agenda. When asking this question you want to be sure you are enticing someone who is innovative, can identify and clearly communicate any flaws in your approach or strategy and is enthusiastic about making some changes very early on.

4.Tell me about a time when you succeeded under pressure.

More than ever we live in a ‘want it now’ culture with businesses expected to respond to a customer’s needs faster than ever before. This question will help determine how someone deals with pressure and if they can remain composed and keep a cool head to get the job done. Whether it is working to a strict deadline, or dealing with a conflicting situation, someone with the ability to thrive and succeed in this environment is a real asset.

5.What skills do you have that make you a good fit for this job?

Overall you want to hire someone who possesses the relevant skills to succeed in the role at hand. This questions allows you to see the level of expertise a potential employee can bring to your business. When answering this question, interviewees can demonstrate their suitability for the role by speaking about relevant qualifications and times when they were able to put key skills to practice in previous positions to achieve positive outcome.

This article is also featured on Independent.ie as part of our new recruitment advice series. Read more from their Business Advice Centre.

The post The 5 Interview Questions You Should always Ask Potential Employees appeared first on Executive Connections.

New Feature: Recruitment Advice Series on Independent.ie

Jennifer Whyte — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:58:03 +0000

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new recruitment advice series in collaboration with Independent.ie. The weekly articles will be featured in their Business Advice Centre with the first article ‘5 ways to avoid a bad hire’ being published today.

Over the next number of weeks we will be writing on a number of topics relevant to employers in today’s competitive hiring market. From insights on hiring mistakes to interview questions and techniques it will be a comprehensive series aiming to offer recruitment advice and recommendations on some of the most prominent challenges employers are currently facing.

If you as an employer require advice on staffing issues or talent acquisition please do not hesitate to contact us. We recruit across a number of specialism areas. Call us today on +353 1 6618740 to speak with a member of our dedicated team.

The post New Feature: Recruitment Advice Series on Independent.ie appeared first on Executive Connections.