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Job hunting during the Covid-19 lockdown? What you need to know

Posted: 24 Apr 2020

Job hunting during the Covid-19 lockdown? What you need to know

Keeping in touch with a specialist recruiter when job hunting during the Covid-19 lockdown can help you find out about opportunities that may not be advertised.

Figures released by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection recently (20 April 2020) show that well over half a million people have availed of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This payment was introduced to support employees and the self-employed who have lost their income due to the pandemic. While the sectors most impacted are Accommodation and Food Service activities (126,000), Wholesale and Retail Trade (88,400) and Construction (77,400), IT workers are not unaffected. Eolas Recruitment has seen an uplift in the number of candidates job hunting in recent weeks.

So, what do you need to know if you are job hunting during the current lockdown?

 

“The first thing I’d advise is to get your CV up to date,” says Senior Recruiter Peter Kirby. “Lockdown doesn’t change the fact that your CV has a huge bearing on how a potential employer will view your job application. One of the biggest mistakes we find is that candidates think all they have to do is add new information to an earlier CV. Most candidates will need to create a fresh document tailored to the role they are applying for. Earlier this month, we shared tips on our website about how to update your tech CV.”

Senior Recruiter Stephen Daly says another thing job hunters can do during the lockdown is use the time to enhance their skills and qualifications.

“In recent times it has been very much a candidate’s market with a lot of opportunities for IT workers across a broad range of sectors. However, due to the current pandemic, there are more candidates in the market which means competition for good roles will increase. While your current qualifications may look good on your CV, other candidates could have additional technical and/or management qualifications. It is really good to show that you are committed to ongoing learning and development. There are lots of online training courses out there so there’s plenty of ways to enhance your skills. This can make a real difference when applying for all kinds of IT roles, from project management through to information and cybersecurity, cloud and DevOps.”

Check out this Eolas Recruitment article for tips on how to improve your chances of getting the job you want.

Candidates need to keep an open mind when it comes to applying for roles, perhaps considering temporary or interim roles during the lockdown period, says Senior Recruiter Nollaig Leydon.

Nollaig says if you are selected for interview, it will most likely be a phone or video interview due to the current social distancing restrictions.

“We’re seeing a lot more employers now willing to use phone and video interviews when screening candidates. Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, WebEx and GotoMeeting are the most common apps companies are using. Job hunters really need to familiarise themselves with these apps and practice using them. Usually, there’s only get one chance to make a good impression in a video interview. I’ve seen good candidates lose out because their Internet connection was poor and it affected how they came across to the employer. It’s really important that your technology is properly set up and that you know how to use it. Another point to bear in mind is that many people are working from home at the moment. So, if your job hunting is successful and you secure a new role, don’t be alarmed if your onboarding process is virtual,” Nollaig advises.

When it comes to finding out about upcoming IT vacancies, one of the best ways to keep a finger on the pulse of the market is keep in touch with a specialist IT recruiter.

Managing Director Vincent Flynn says an advantage Eolas Recruitment has over general recruiters is his team’s in-depth knowledge of the IT sector.

“We’ve been providing temporary, interim and permanent IT professionals for companies across Ireland for more than 20 years now so we have built up great relationships. That means we often hear about upcoming vacancies before they are advertised. Another advantage, which clients have been commenting on recently, is our ability to find suitable candidates for particular roles, even in the current lockdown. Since the pandemic outbreak, some companies have found they are getting fewer applications than usual because candidates are cautious in an uncertain environment. Clients really appreciate our ability to source talent. All of our consultants have IT and recruitment backgrounds and people know they can trust us. You can see that in the favourable reviews that Eolas Recruitment receives from the companies and candidates who use our services,” says Vincent.

Asked what candidates can do if they don’t have an IT background, the Eolas Recruitment team agree that learning to code is a good start.There are always new problems to solve and many companies are looking for coders to support their ongoing development. Even if you have no previous experience, you can learn the basics of coding online.

Candidates who are job hunting during the current lockdown can find out more about Eolas Recruitment in these informational videos. We also encourage you to check out our job listings. For more information and/or a chat in confidence, please reach out to us. Our team will be pleased to help you.

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I had an amazing experience with Eolas Recruitment. Alan Kane and Peter Kirby were a pleasure to work with. They made each step of the recruiting process positive and FAST! I was very impressed with their approach. Alan and Peter were incredibly responsive and gave me great tips to make sure I felt prepared and confident going into my interviews. I'm super excited for my new role and all thanks to Eolas Recruitment for helping me get here with their support and guidance.
Lavanya Gowda
Lavanya Gowda
11:44 06 Jun 23
I want to extend my thanks to Alan and Eolas Recruitment for their support and expertise. Alan reached out to me about a potential job I would be interested in, he guided me through the entire process and ensured I was prepared. The level of professionalism and dedication were evident throughout. I am immensely grateful for their help in securing this opportunity. Highly recommend!
Monica Timmins
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10:58 04 Jun 23
I had a great experience with Eolas Recruitment, especially with my recruiter, Caoimhe Cronin. She was super helpful and professional throughout the whole process. She checked in regularly to see how I was doing and offered any assistance I needed. She also gave me some great tips on how to prepare for interviews. I appreciate her positive attitude and support. Even after I got the job, she was still available to answer any questions. I would definitely recommend Eolas Recruitment to anyone looking for a new job in IT.
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17:55 03 Jun 23
I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Eolas, and I am immensely grateful for the outstanding support and assistance provided by Sean Prendergast. From the moment I engaged with Eolas, Sean has been an incredible resource and advocate, ensuring that my journey with the company was nothing short of exceptional.Throughout the entire recruitment process, Sean's professionalism shone through. His expertise and guidance were invaluable in helping me navigate every step, from the initial interview to securing the position. His attention to detail and commitment to understanding my career aspirations made me feel truly heard and valued as a candidate.I highly recommend Eolas to anyone seeking professional recruitment services. Their commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and genuine care for candidates make them a standout choice in the industry. My experience with Eolas was truly outstanding, and I am confident they will continue to assist many individuals in their pursuit of fulfilling careers.A heartfelt thank you to Jim Ryan, the Managing Director of Eolas, for his exceptional leadership and support.
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Nicola was very helpful and professional throughout the recruitment process. She answered the many questions I had in a clear and concise manner. Overall great communication throughout.
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Nicola did an awesome job, always keeping me posted about the status of my job application and interviews. She provided great materials to help prepare and was very transparent in setting expectations and negotiating on my behalf. I highly recommend.
Aymeric P
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Very Professional, friendly and helpful with queries. Helped me through the whole process with regular updates and communication.
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My dealings with Nicola as a senior recruiter was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my years of engaging with recruitment agencies. Nicola’s professionalism, courtesy and friendly manner was refreshing. I highly recommend Nicola as a recruitment partner. David
David Brady
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17:06 03 May 23
I dealt with Nicola Byrne whom I found to be excellent, particularly in keeping me up to date and staying in contact. I would recommend Nicola and Eolas to anyone seeking a new role.
Daryl McGrath
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20:53 26 Apr 23
I had a great experience with Eolas. They contacted me for a role that suited my needs exactly. The interview process happened very smoothy thanks to the way they communicated and organised the interviews.
Barry McMahon
Barry McMahon
07:56 20 Apr 23
Eolas has been great for me. They are to the point and beyond helpful and supportive, going the extra mile but taking you there as well so you are the best you when you need to be. Cant recommend them enough, and I hope to be working with them for a long time and on many occassions.
Diego M. Sieiro
Diego M. Sieiro
10:36 14 Apr 23
Fantastic company. Peter Kirby contacted me and was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the entire interview and hiring process. I highly recommend Eolas recruitment!
Paul
Paul
10:07 14 Apr 23
I had the pleasure and good fortune of working with Eolas and Peter Kirby in particular. I was matched to a role that is the perfect fit for me. Peter Kirby and Caoimhe Cronin made the recruitment process seamless. Fast, efficient, helpful, courteous and friendly. I have no hesitation in giving Eolas my highest recommendation, definitely deserving of a 5 star!
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17:03 11 Apr 23
Great experience when joining new my contract role. Got all my questions answered very quickly through Caoimhe. She was very responsive and professional throughout my process from scheduling interview till my first day. Very well detailed information was provided to me for my first day, so thank you!
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My experience with Eolas recruitment was fantastic, Sean Prendergast was a pleasure to deal with, he kept me informed throughout the whole process and I would recommend Sean and the Eolas team to anyone looking for a new job position
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Recruitment process was smooth. Alan was in touch with me via email even when I was out of Ireland. I was given sufficient time for interview preparation and they also gave me enough time to rest after coming back to Ireland and did not rush me to join work immediately. The onboarding process went smooth as well. Alan was very helpful throughout. Thanks Eolas for your service and helping me get a contract job.
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I would highly recommend Eolas Recruitment. It was Very quick response to my application and they kept me up to date with every stage of the process. I am just about to start a great new role thanks to their fantastic services. I wanted to thank STEPHEN DALY and CAOIMHE CRONIN for all the support and encouragement. 😇
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Great working with this agency, I landed a great opportunity with them, they do everything with people looking to change like me, Special thanks to Luke P for going beyond to help in any he could.
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My fresh experience with eolas recruitment was excellent and amazing, Peter Kirby and Caoimhe Cronin was really supportive and professional, guided me through the entire interview process and supported me every moment before and after the interview. I am very grateful to eolas as my recruiting agency. Thank you for the great service you offered.Lijumol Shaji
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It was a wonderful experience throughout the recruitment process. Luke Prendergast dealt and assisted me with every step in a very professional manner.
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I'm currently contracting through Eolas and I couldn't recommend them enough. Everything from interviews through to supporting on boarding has been very efficient. I've dealt primarily with Stephen Daly for recruitment, he's a gentleman, very competent and always available for questions. Also Berilyn Teeling my accounts contact is very friendly and professional.One stand out feature is the communication between agents in Eolas. When you take the time to reply with feedback to one of the Eolas agents about a proposed role that isn't for you, you'll be contacted about a position that suits you if one arises!
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It was an amazing experience with Eolas recruitment team.Caoimhe Cronin was very helpful all the way through the recruitment process. I would say it was one of the best HR experiences I have with Caoimhe.Thank you for all your help and support.
aitham vinay
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Excellent experience going through the recruitment process with Eolas Recruitment as a job seeker. Alan was superb in keeping me up to date and preparing me for the various interview rounds. I can highly recommend.
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My experience with Eolas was great. It was a pleasure dealing with Alan Kane. He was extremely professional and helpful throughout the process.He kept me up to date with my progress after the interview. I would higly recommend Alan and Eolas team.
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From the initial discussion about my role through, the vetting, onboarding and right through to the invoicing and payment process the experience with Eolas has been first rate. Luke helped me highlight the items on the CV that the client was looking for and Stephen gave me solid advice about how to invoice in Euros from a UK company. Stephen advised me to open a euro account. Advice which I initially ignored...at my cost...the Royal Bank of Scotland creamed 4.6% of my first invoice! Next time I will listen to the voice of experience.
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