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.

Know your worth

Take a step back and review your credentials. Who are you and what do you bring to the table? It’s important to not only know your worth and motivations but also what you will offer the company and bring to the job. Be clear with yourself on your strengths and the assets you will bring to the job and own them, this alone will boost your confidence and ensure you impress your potential employer throughout.

Rehearse

We’ve all had perfect arguments in our minds with people that we plan on giving it socks to. Unfortunately, often in reality when the opportunity to say your piece arises you don’t get half of what you wanted to say out and end up kicking yourself in frustration instead of dropping the mic and sassing your way out of there!

But what lesson do we learn from these experiences? Communication of our thoughts and feelings sound completely different in our heads than they do once vocalised. If you want to nail it, you have to practice. In the mirror, to a friend or anybody that will listen. Structure your answers and examples and practice them, out loud! This will not only calm your nerves but it will ensure your communication flows, allowing you to hit all the relevant points.

Be yourself

So many candidates forget the importance of building a rapport and giving the panel an idea of who you really are as a person. All of my clients place a huge focus on cultural fit and sometimes, even if you tick all the boxes and completely meet the brief, this isn’t enough. The one part you don’t have to swot up on and rehearse is YOU! Fitting in with a team or company cultural is paramount to all hires so make sure that you allow for enough relaxation to show off your personality and let your loveliness shine through. Smile, engage, make eye contact and give a solid hand shake. The vibes will flow and the nerves will fade away and you’ll leave them wanting to work with you in the future.

Be mindful

If at interview you start to feel the nerves taking over, be mindful. Centre yourself and check back in with reality. You’re here, having a conversation about you (something you know everything about), you’ve done your homework on the company and the job. All they can ask you is about is what you’ve done in the past and what you can bring to the table for this job. You know your skillset and have prepared some great examples of this.

Once you frame the situation it instantly becomes easier to manage and move forward. And don’t forget, this is a conversation so allow it to be just that. If you forget a point you wanted to make or feel you could have answered better, just communicate. ‘Before we move on do you mind if I just take you through a further example, relevant to your last question?’ or ‘would you like me to provide further detail on that project?’ Your panel will only respect you more for not letting the opportunity to shine pass you by.

Above all breathe, trust yourself and show them what you’ve got. This is not a pass or fail situation, it’s as much of a learning activity for them as it is for you, you’ve got this!

For more advice or to chat about some of the current live roles I’m working on, give me a call at 01 6618740 or forward your CV to ciara@executiveconnections.ie

The post Top tips for banishing your pre-interview nerves. appeared first on Executive Connections.

The 2017 Irish jobs market has kicked off with a bang and it is definitely a really exciting time to be a candidate on the jobs market. Competition between leading employers is heating up and with the flood of interest in the Ireland post Brexit, the battle for talent is well and truly on. For strong and experienced candidates this means opportunity, new horizons and a wealth of choice on the Irish jobs market. But before you take the leap of faith and head on out to market job seeking bear some of the following advice in mind.

Anyone who lives or works in Ireland’s capital city will know that Dublin has that typically Irish ability to look like a city but act like a village. The same faces pop up everywhere and you never know when you’ll be next rubbing shoulders with an ex-colleague or manager at the water cooler. While Dublin’s Finance Industry has massive global reach, it’s still a relatively small space so putting your best foot forward when job seeking and protecting your professional reputation is paramount!

Below are some tips for those of you who may not be as familiar with how hiring processes works or how you should carry yourself throughout them. This is advice I’d give any candidate, friend, family member and even myself if I was actively looking for a new job in 2017. These are simply insights and tips to protect your professional profile in a relatively small market.

Map your market

Put some time into researching how you’re going to approach the jobs market

• What jobs you’re interested in
• Which recruiter you’d like to partner with
• What companies you are interested in
• What salary you are worth on the current market
• Decide on your expectations for your next role in detail- likes and dislikes, location, salary, benefits, career goals etc.

Decide on your expectations for your next role in detail- likes and dislikes, location, salary, benefits, career goals etc.

Now you are more aware of what you’re looking for don’t be too eager and  flood jobs boards with your CV for roles you think you like or might be good for. Keep your profile clean and professional and keep an accurate record of where you’re CV is going to avoid too much duplication. You want to look hot to potential employers so go after the right jobs not every job.

Communicate

The key to any successfully recruiter/ candidate relationship is honesty, openness and transparency. There should be no reason for you to be closed about your requirements or position on the market. Believe me, you will not hurt a recruiters feelings by telling them you are working with other recruiters or interviewing for other jobs. What you will do is allow them to navigate the opportunities they have represented you for in the right direction. If you are a strong candidate, of course you’ll be in demand; in fact this can sometimes make you even more attractive or make potential employers act faster in engaging with you. The market is extremely fast moving at the moment, and top employers are ready. The more your recruiter knows about where you’re at and what you want, the more likely you are to land the job you want.

Salary expectations

This is closely linked to the importance of honesty… you should be aware of your market rate and the salaries on offer for the jobs you are targeting, if you don’t your recruiter can guide you. Be realistic with this however, don’t price yourself out and do take your recruiters advice, of course they want you to get as much as possible for your new role so they’ll give you a true depiction of what is achievable. Things can change throughout the process, you might learn more about the job or have a bonus looming and your expectations can change, but be clear with your recruiter. This is the tough part to manage on your own and while recruiters are experts in negotiation they can only work with what you give them. The day you receive an offer is not the time to start changing your expectations. It doesn’t leave a great taste in your potential employer’s mouth and certainly won’t reflect well on your professionalism. Negotiation should happen pre-offer to avoid any disappointment on both sides.

Commitment

Hiring processes can be lengthy and can require a lot of back and forth between candidate, recruiter and company. Keep your professional approach at all times and imagine our committing to dinner with your boss!??  Only commit to roles you are genuinely interested in and know you will commit to attending interview if selected. Try your best to be flexible during business hours where possible. Naturally we all have personal and professional commitments but if interviews and meetings cannot be a lead priority for you, maybe now is not the time to be looking for a new job.

The same should be said for ‘notice of availability’ or start dates. If you’ve accepted an offer with a new firm and advised you’ve got X amount of a notice period, make sure you’re in a position to honour that. Ensure there are no bonuses or claw backs lingering in the near future that would prevent you from starting within and agreed time period. If these crop up at the last minute, it doesn’t look great and can cause frustrations for your new employer.

Counter Offers

When you get to point of receiving an offer from a new employer, a lot of time, work and effort has gone in to the process from both yourself, your recruiter and your potential new employer. Offers aren’t handed out willy nilly and they are a sign of a big commitment from the company, to you as a new investment. Allowing your head to be turned by last ditch attempts to hold on to you will almost certainly burn your bridges with hiring managers and a company that you were genuinely interested in.

While counter offer situations may look like an opportunity to cut yourself a good deal, generally speaking they end up being not so favourable and the statistics associated with those who accept them, suggest that most people are back on the market within six months (but that’s a whole other article!) My advice would be to hypothetically consider ALL options within your current firm before committing to the market. If you’re good, your employer is bound to do whatever they can to keep you (or at least they should have already done so right?….) and you need to know what it would take for them to keep you, before committing to external opportunities. Dream big, think a 10k increments (yes, they happen!) ,a big promotion or even a divisional move. If you’re still saying no to these in your head… you’re ready to jump ship and keep your reputation in check as you do so.

For more advice or to chat about some of the current live roles I’m working on, give me a call at 01 6618740 or forward your CV to ciara@executiveconnections.ie

The post Job Seeking Etiquette – how to protect your professional profile appeared first on Executive Connections.

In the current market, the number of banks offering contract roles is significantly increasing with numerous UK based Financial Services companies exploring the opportunity to relocate to Ireland post Brexit. It has never been so crucial to stand out from the crowd given that competition is rife in the jobs market.

You may be thinking to yourself before an interview, “I meet every requirement on the job spec”, “I have 5 years’ experience in Corporate & Commercial Banking”, “this is going to be plain sailing”…wrong.

In our experience we have seen job seekers who are perfect on paper but have been ‘pipped at the post’ by a candidate with less experience who delivered a more strategic, ambitious, enthusiastic and engaging interview.

You can secure a job in the last 5 minutes of an interview even if you have had a few hiccups along the way.

So how do you do you stand out and deliver a positive and powerful job interview?

We recommend asking well prepared and thought out questions at the end of an interview that showcase your interest in the role as well as your enthusiasm towards the company and why you are the perfect hire.

The best questions to build a rapport with the interviewer are focused and open-ended so try to avoid yes or no questions.

Always ask 2-3 questions at the end of a job interview. The following examples are a good starting point for any interview and will help you leave an impression on your interviewer;

• Given that this a contract role/new team/new operation, how can I impress you in the first 3 months?
• What challenges could I face in the first 3 months?
• How has someone in this role previously progressed within the company?
• What do you like the most about working in this company?
• Does the company have any further expansion plans over the coming years?
• Given the current market, what are the biggest opportunities/challenges facing your company at the moment?
• When can I expect to hear from you and what is the next step in the process?

When the interview is coming to an end and after you have asked your questions, it is always beneficial for you to briefly reiterate why you are the perfect hire. One or two sentences is fine – see the short example below.

“Thank you very much for your time. I believe that my personality, skills and experience in …………….. will be a great match for what you are looking for. This is a role and company that I am very excited about and I look forward to hearing from you.”

This simple exit strategy accompanied by strategic, enthusiastic and open-ended questions will cement a positive impression with the interviewer and help you stand out from the crowd.

If you would like any advice on the financial services jobs market in Dublin feel free to reach out to the team at Executive Connections. Call us on 01-6618740 or view our current live roles here.

The post Are you asking questions at the end of your job interview? appeared first on Executive Connections.

With the explosion of social media over the last few years the recruitment landscape has shifted accordingly but the old adage that ‘recruitment is marketing’ still holds true and is perhaps even more pertinent as you seek to attract high quality, suitably qualified people to your company. The marketplace is increasingly noisy and so in order to make your role / company stand out in the crowd you need to ensure you are visible, attractive and approachable.

Visible

Communicate your brand and company ethos clearly within your job description. Provide an overview of the company and the structure of the team rather than just a list of “To Do’s”. People are attracted to people, not to lists. Be clear as to what the role entails by all means but also clearly communicate why you want/need someone to join your team rather than simply detailing what the person will be required to do. The best people want to be a part of something that matters. Tell them why it matters.

Attractive

Sell your team and company in the job description and continue to do so throughout the recruitment cycle. Stay on message and don’t oversell either the position or the company. Everyone and every company have strong points and advantages so point them out at the start and reiterate them throughout the process.  Be clear on the message you want to get across, include it as part of your attraction strategy and be sure your recruitment team and organisation as a whole know what makes your company a great place to work as well as being able to communicate this to potential employees.

Approachable

You are advertising for people to join you so when they do apply then try to communicate with them in a timely manner. Thank them for applying and outline how your application process will work prior to scheduling an initial screening call if appropriate. Keeping everyone updated throughout the process is a key but often overlooked factor.  If timelines change or unforeseen delays occur communicating these can ensure your candidate shortlist does not disappear before you are in a position to make a decision.

At Executive Connections we partner with top clients who are looking for the best candidates on the market and when we find them we treat them with respect and professional courtesy throughout the recruitment process.

For further details on how we can potentially recruit for you and your team contact me, John Ennis on 01-6618740. Alternatively, email johnennis@executiveconnections.ie

The post Recruitment is marketing – 3 simple tips to stand out when hiring. appeared first on Executive Connections.

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.

Speaking about the day Hilarie Geary, CEO of Executive Connections 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. To get on site, meet the staff and children and see the amazing work they do first hand was great. We had a thoroughly enjoyable day and it feels great to be able to play a part in bringing festive cheer to the hospice.” 

You can see some of our handiwork in the video below.  Huge thanks to the team at LauraLynn who do amazing work all year round.

The post Christmas window painting at LauraLynn House appeared first on Executive Connections.

We have seen a surge in the number of new roles we are working on in recent months. At the moment one of our leading investment management clients is expanding operations in Dublin City Centre. Having worked closely with this client over the past 18 months, successfully placing candidates in a variety of different functions, I am aware of the benefits of securing employment with this organisation.

Luckily for you, this expansion means they’re hiring! And at a rapid rate! They are currently seeking to appoint career motivated and skilled professionals for a variety of their growing departments based in Dublin City Centre.

What’s in it for you?

This is a leading Investment Management bank with global reach and an excellent reputation on the market. They offer first class services and working here means you will be working in an environment with the latest technology available. Are you innovative with a passion for always striving to do better? This is a research driven company, which is highly strategic all the while implementing a client focused approach to operations.

Our client are renowned for their huge emphasis on employee development. Working here means constant support from your peers and management to achieve every career goal you have. Together you will forge a clear and successful career path.

As well as this their beautiful offices are located in the heart of Dublin City, easily accessible by all forms of public transport. Check out the short video below which gives a quick overview on the culture and mission of this impressive organisation.

Benefits on offer.

Does your current package include all the below elements? Gaining employment with this employer means your remuneration will include all the below and more. What are you waiting for? Check out the vacancies on offer here.

• Competitive and current market rate salaries
• Pension
• Private Healthcare
• Life Insurance
• Excepetional bonus structure
• Disability scheme
• Tax Saver Travel Options
• Regular Incentive Awards
• Educational Support
• Professional Subscriptions

So what roles are they hiring for?

Still interested? Great! We are currently interested in speaking to people from the backgrounds below for opportunities of all levels.

• Performance Analysts
• Asset Valuations / Pricing
• Corporate Actions
• Regulatory Reporting
• Operational Support
• Data Analytics
• Business Analysts
• Trade Support / Settlements / Reconciliations / Payments
• Custody / Cash Management
• Fund Accounting
• Investor Services
• Financial Reporting

These roles won’t be around for long so get in touch with me today in order to take the next step in your Banking career. You can call me on 01-6618740 or email ciara@executiveconnections.ie. Alternatively, you can see some of the roles we have on offer here, be sure to apply and I will reach out to you should your experience be of interest!

The post Ready for a Banking career move? Guess who’s hiring! appeared first on Executive Connections.

The post Infographic: Senior Marketing Professionals Survey Findings appeared first on Executive Connections.

The results are in from our Senior Marketing Professionals Survey!

As promised we said we would share our findings with you. Thank you to all of you who participated in our survey in partnership with Spark Market Research, we are really grateful to all who took part.

We set out to investigate topics including ROI, allocation of spend, skills gaps & challenges as well as work/life balance. Is your organisation in line with the average when it comes to these subjects and more? We surveyed Senior Marketing Professionals across a wide range of industries ranging from software and computer services to financial services and food and drink retailers.

Our main findings are presented below.

Marketing Spend Allocation

The breakdown of Marketing spend last year versus projected spend this year stays relatively consistent. Highest claimed spend was allocated to Digital at 42%, followed by Below the Line (37%). Least spend is allocated to Above the Line activity with respondents spending 21% of Marketing spend via these channels.

Best bet for ROI?

When it comes to effectiveness of a variety of Marketing channels, half suggest that digital is best for ROI, with only 14% of respondents suggesting Above The Line is most effective. This finding shows the way in which Marketing teams communicate with their target audience is changing. SEO, PPC, Social Media and Remarketing have become front runners as preferred Marketing channels over more traditional methods including TV, Print, Radio and Outdoor Advertising.

Overcoming Challenges & Skills Gaps

As consumer behaviour changes at a rapid rate, Marketing professionals will need to be adaptable and always willing to upskill. The biggest challenge facing people employed in this area in the next 3 years is keeping up with Digital Marketing and Technology. Other challenges facing marketing professionals include attracting/ generating new customers and proving return on investment.

The top 3 skill gaps in their marketing teams at present are Digital Marketing, Data Analytics and Content Creation.

On a personal level, Marketing professionals plan to upskill mainly in the area of Digital (31%) while a third have no plans to upskill.

Agency

69% of marketing professionals are using PR agencies, with a half using digital, advertising and market research agencies.

When it comes to agency spend (PR, Digital, Market Research & Advertising) two thirds of those we spoke to plan to increase spend this year. Digital agencies are in increased demand with the biggest increase in spend this year versus last year. A third plan to increase spend for PR, while planned spend on market research and advertising is a bit flatter.

Are Marketing Technologies a must?

Our research suggests that CRM isn’t as popular as we would have thought. Half of marketing professionals we spoke to do not use any marketing technologies. There are no dominant technology brands, but respondents quoted Eloqua and Hubspot as the most common.

Optimism for Growth

There is also evidence of optimism as regards team size and employment prospects. Over half (57%) are saying they intend to increase the size of their team, while 40% of respondents suggest team size will decrease.

Managing Work & a Busy Lifestyle

Working from home is an option for 80% of senior marketing professionals we spoke to. Half of them work from home at least once or twice a month, although only a minority do so weekly or more.

Two thirds of respondents have flexible working hours, with over two thirds working 40+ hours a week, and about 1 in 4 saying they do over 50 hours. Half of senior marketing professionals find their job stressful. Exercise is the main outlet to manage stress, followed by socialising with friends and family.

Summary

Overall, digital marketing and the resources to support these Marketing activities are the most clear cut result from our findings.

The biggest challenge facing marketing in the next 3 years and the top skill gaps among marketing teams is the area of digital marketing and technologies. With the biggest spend allocated to Digital (SEO, PPC, Social, Remarketing, Email, Mobile) and an increase in planned spend for digital agencies this year, marketing professionals are feeling somewhat unconfident in the changing digital landscape, but also see immense value and need to be present in the digital space.

Do you fit in with our findings or do you have a drastically different opinion? We would love to hear from you! If you would like to discuss our findings or would like any more information about current trends specific to the Marketing industry please do not hesitate to contact me. Call Aisling on 01-6618740 or email aisling@executiveconnections.ie

The post Executive Connections Senior Marketing Professionals Survey Results appeared first on Executive Connections.

The Code was drawn up by Ibec, the 30% Club and a small steering group of professionals from recruitment and executive search firms representing some of the leading companies in the sector, all of whom have committed to signing up to the Code. It is a voluntary code which sets out eight key principles of best practice which include:

• Diversity goals: Be aware of overall senior management and board composition. In the context of the organisation’s agreed goals on diversity, determine where to prioritise gender balance in recruitment;
• Defining briefs: Recruitment and search firms will ensure that appropriate weight is given to relevant skills, underlying competencies and personal capabilities and not just proven career experience;
• Candidate support: Provide appropriate support, in particular to first-time candidates, to prepare them for interviews and guide them through the selection process.

As an executive resourcing firm, our sister company Principal Connections was in attendance. The participating firms acknowledge the value that diversity can bring and believe the Code reflects their commitment to helping clients to improve gender balance, and share best practice across the industry. It also acknowledges the important role of Ireland’s Senior Recruitment and Executive Search Firms in supporting their clients as they take steps to increase the gender balance at executive level and on their boards.

Follow Principal Connections on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date with all our latest news.

The post Principal Connections among founding members of new Code promoting gender balance appeared first on Executive Connections.