Here is an interesting initative that I came across today - the launch of Hireland.ie.

They have established a website and are encouraging small and medium enterprises in Ireland to pledge to create new opportunities.

On their website they published some research that had been undertaken with 150 SME's in Ireland (average number of employees was 36) to ask them about their recruitment plans for 2012 in Ireland. The survey took place between 9-12 January 2012.

I have certainly noticed a lot of new opportunities in the technology sector being announced of late.

Employment opportunties in SME's in Ireland forecast to increase in 2012

The results of the Amarach research are interesting read and not what I expected to find based on the conversations I have had with businesses this year:

• 52% of SMEs plan to hire one or more new employees this year
• Of those planning to hire they expect to recruit 4 new staffSMEs expect to employ an average of 4 new staff.

I personally have not met owners of SME's who have told me that they are planning to increase the number of positions in their organisations, but if research is born ot in new vacancies being created that is going to be great news for employment opportunties in Ireland.

The research also reported that the benefit they were looking forward to was the 'potential for better customer service'. Don't get me started on customer service (or lack of it in many cases). Great customer service is not dependent on number of staff - it's about education, culture and a employing talent in your organisaiton who have a mind set and desire to deliver great service.

But back to Hireland.ie - this is an initiative you can get involved in and pledge your support to increasing employment opportunties - check them out at http://www.hireland.ie.

Speculative job applications can lead the way to unadvertised opportunties

One quick tip for those who are finding it difficult to find an opportunity - don't give up on the speculative enquiries. I recently met with a young graduate who has spent their last 2 years in paid internships.

They wrote a speculative job application to an SME last Summer who were impressed with their experience, held onto their CV and called them for an interview when an opportunity arose in their company.

So yes there are opportunities to be found and more often than not the vacancies are not advertised.

As an ex-boss of mine used to say 'Keep the faith' - in this case with your job search!

Heading towards the holidays, your office party has taken place, perhaps you are now reviewing how your career progressed in 2011 and what your hopes and aspirations are for 2012?

You might think this is not a good time to search for career opportunities, but it is a great time to get your CV or resume tidied up in time for the January uplift in the job market.

I was sent details recently of an iPhone app for FindAJob.ie where you can event browse jobs on the move - or of course nore discretely than looking up new opportunities on your computer!

(Findajob.ie is the new name for LoadzaJobs.ie and is a part of Ireland’s leading print and online media group, Independent News and Media (INM).).

As an employer you can also post a position - you will see their advertising packages here: http://advertise.loadzajobs.ie.

In summary it is worth checking out though I do think that FindAJob.ie need to do some work behind the scenes to improve the useability of the app - see for example when I did a search for the organisation 'Microsoft', rather than it shortlisting vacancies for the Microsoft organisation it picked up positions which included the word 'Microsoft' in their posting:

When looking at some of the vacancies, they were difficult to read due to lack of formatting:

If you come across a vacancy that you are interested in you can request details to be emailed to you:

And if you think the vacancy would be a great fit for your friends and social networkg contacts you can share it on Facebook, Twitter and by email - a notable missing for me is the ability to share on LinkedIn:

So if you are looking for a new role in 2012, check out the iPhone app for FindAJob.ie for the opportunity to check out vacancies in your 'down time' - but of course don't forget that your network online and offline is also a great way to unearth opportunities that may never be posted at all!

 

 

 

And an alternative graphic

Source: Careerenlightenment

Here's a great role if you are interested in expanding your career in social media with a global company - the summary of the role is as follows:

• Monitoring Social Media channels and responding to Customer Support queries and problems
• Handle escalations and customer support issues from Social Media channels
• Moderating on Social Media channels if necessary
• Monitoring company perception across multiple Social media platforms
• Report back to the business and Customer Support leadership on company perception and escalation handling within Social Media
• Be a customer advocate and resolve for customers
• Work with internal teams where necessary to resolve issues for the customer
• Highlight process improvements, policy adjustments and training opportunities to the appropriate teams
• Acquire comprehensive Social Media industry knowledge.

You can apply for the role on LinkedIn.

 

Looking to change careers? Then check out the National College of Ireland forthcoming information evening about cloud computing - infact you will also be able to find out how to access free places available on cloud computing courses if you are currently unemployed.

The event takes place on Wednesday 29 June from 5-7pm in the IFSC. Dublin and will feature industry speakers and experts.

National College of Ireland is offering free places on certain part-time courses for the unemployed under the Springboard initiative. Advisors will be on hand to discuss which course is right for you and how you can avail of one of the places - find out more about the available courses here.

 

Here is a good news story -  you might have seen this referenced online as a recent success story of using social media to attract a new job.

26-year-old  Féilim Mac An Iomaire from Galway invested €2,000 in an integrated ‘Jobless Paddy’ campaign using a billboard, Facebook and Twitter, has landed a 6 month contract as a communications executive with bookmaker Paddy Power.

He wanted to work in social media and marketing, launched the campaign at the end of May, with a billboard on Merrion Road in Dublin which was in place until 12 June 2011.

The billboard depicted Mac An Iomaire looking out to a skyline that is a mix of Toronto, London, Manhattan and Sydney.

“Having tried and failed for months and exhausted all traditional job-hunting avenues, I have decided to have one last throw of the dice to remain in Ireland before I am forced to look elsewhere for work and to develop myself professionally," he said on Facebook.

 

Check out his Facebook page here and his Twitter account here.

Have a vacancy to share or seeking a position then check out the Twitter hash tag #jobfairy.

Are you an ambitious online marketing specialist looking for a role in digital marketing and social media for one of the leading food brands in Ireland?

Then check out the position of On-line Marketing Executive (you might consider this to be like a junior brand manager) for Danone's baby business based in Deansgrange, South Dublin.

This is an exciting role and the organisation is investing in its integrated marketing to increase awareness of their brands and to support the activities of their sales and marketing functions - Danone Baby Nutrition brands include Aptamil and Cow and Gate.

The salary for the role is in the order of €30,000 - €35,000 ans the closing date for applications is 10 June 2011.

The Baby Nutrition division of Danone specialises in food for the healthy growth and development of infants and toddlers (0-3 years old) through an extensive range of safe, nutritionally superior and convenient products.

The role will report to the Customer Relationship ManagerTeam Leader and has important external contacts with Parents-To-Be, Trade Customers and Health Care Professionals.

As an example of some of Danone's innovative thinking in digital media, they recently partnered with Irish Health to make available the Child Immunisation Tracker iPhone App.

You can download a full job description and profile of the role here.

Applications should be addressed to Orna Forde, HR Director, Danone Ireland Limited & Danone Baby Nutrition by email orna.forde(at)danone.com.

Note - no headhunders or recruitment agencies please.

Are you looking for a job in web and social media adminstration and connected to the Christian faith? Then check out this vacancy which is on a fixed term contract.

The 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) is a weeklong programme of events, linking faith and culture, with a particular focus on the gathering of people of every nation, language and way of life around the Eucharistic table. The Congress will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Dublin from June 10-17 2012.

It was last held in Ireland in 10932 and it's goals are to:

- promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church

- help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy

- draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.
 
As part of their continued preparations, they are currently seeking to recruit a suitably experienced and qualified candidate for the role of Website and Social Media Adminstrator to support the work of the Marketing, Media and Communications Office through the development and maintenance of the website, social media and other means of communication.

You can find out about the role and how to apply here - closing date is 20 May 2011.

By the way, if this is not the right role for you, the International Eucharistic Congress is also looking for volunteers - during the course of the preparation for the Congress itself, videos, photos, webcasting and live broadcasts will be taken of participants attending various events - all the details of how to apply to be a volunteer are posted here.

And you can also find the International Eucharistic Congress online at:

Audioboo - http://audioboo.fm/IEC2012

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/IEC2012

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/iec2012

Twitter - http://twitter.com/iec2012

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/iec2012

Oh and how did I find out about the role? From one of my Twitter friends who is a Catholic Priest here in Ireland who asked me if I knew anyone who woud be interested in the role - hence the post :) And just in case you wondered, I'm Church of Ireland.

Are you passionate about food and a social media specialist? Then check out this vacancy that my digital buddy Keith Bohanna has just shared with me.

Keith's client is an established consumer facing brand in the food sector and they are searching for a Social Media Manager to manage their presence in social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, other community social networks and blogs.

The position will be based in the South East and the salary is up to €25k.

Here is a link to the PDF with all the details of the role and how to apply,

You can contact Keith on Twitter with any questions @keithbohanna or email him at keith AT bohanna.com, or reach him on 086 2300702.

Applications close on Monday 16th May 2011 at 10am.

Be sure to keep me posted if you are successful! Good luck.