Is Returning to Work After Maternity Leave a Trick or a Treat?

Anne-Marie's son Harry the Dinosaur

Anne-Marie Walsh shares her experience of maternity leave and coming back to work in Hays as an IT Business Intelligence Consultant.

Almost a year ago, I went on maternity leave from Hays. I was like a kid leaving school for a very long mid-term break.  I was ready to go. Although planning a business intelligence event to coincide with my last day of work, (while being approximately 36 weeks pregnant) was not in fact one of my more einsteinien ideas!

I looked forward to maternity leave, my mind conjured up idyllic scenes of baby massaging, long lazy lunches with other mummies and general bonding bliss with my baby.   I did have some appreciation at that point of the nappies, feeds and late nights but I preferred not to dwell on that. 

Eleven months later and maternity leave is now a distant memory.  What was a bump is now a healthy hearty boy, a little man in the making.  Six months went by in what felt like four weeks.  I remember getting asked if I had to go back to work. I did, but I also wanted to. 

I love my new little man unconditionally.  Weekends are a newfound treasure where all I want to do is chill out with him (sometimes he gets annoyed and insists I let him go to bed). But the working week is great, my head needed it and I needed it. 

You'll be seeing plenty of Halloween masks tonight. But I think we all use masks on a daily basis to differentiate work from our personal lives.  The thing with going on maternity leave and then returning to work is that, for a while, it is confusing as to which mask you should be wearing. 

I wear the work mask and get motivated by getting the right people for the right job.  I also get energy from my client and candidate interaction and finding out about the market changes in the last six months.  They hadn’t changed too much - Oracle and Microsoft business intelligence experts were still highly in demand.

I also get to actually drink a warm coffee (new mums understand a sup of warm coffee while handling a new baby is the Holy Grail) and socialise with colleagues once more.  But in the evenings there is a change.  It is no longer ‘Oh I have worked a very long day I deserve to put my feet up…or do yoga…or some such thing’. Now it’s like a military operation… pick up your baby, make a gazillion bottles for your baby, make other food for your baby, clean up after your baby, bath your baby and try and play with your baby.

A discourse on ‘mindfulness’ is pervasive in health and psychology media at the moment.  It comes from eastern traditions and involves paying conscious attention to experiences as they unfold, so your head is neither caught in the past, or the future, but in the present.  Having a baby taught me to be more mindful.  Instead of wondering what I should be doing now or what I would be doing in ten years I had to be present and attending to a hungry, sleepy and at times, smelly little creature.  This was no time for daydreaming.  Equally, with the return to work it has struck me that one way to negotiate the work life balance is to be more mindful.  So when you are at work focus fully on that and when you are with your little person, give that your full attention. I suspect this may be more difficult than it sounds but a good thing to strive for nonetheless. 

I also figure this can’t be all bad for my little man.  He has a relatively competitive mum.  If I wasn’t chipping away at my own monthly plans I would be monitoring his developmental milestone and putting in some performance improvement measures. I suspect Crèche may be a breather for this baby! Some people choose to be working mums, some choose to be stay-at-home mums, others don’t have a choice.  I want to be a happy mum and for me that involves trying to balance home and work life.  It helps to be working in Hays, an organisation that supports that. 

Coming back to work has had its challenges, yes I am super busy and yes I have had the odd maternal pang of guilt, wanting to extend the weekends….  But I like being busy and I think it makes you value the time you have with your little one all the more.  I also value work more. Being a stay-at-home mum would actually have been a very bad career choice for me.   I always was a nerdy child so I identify with those kids that enjoy leaving school for the mid term break but really are secretly ready to go back next Monday morning.  

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Anne-Marie Walsh

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IT Recruitment Consultant
HAYS Recruiting experts in Information Technology

2 Dawson Street Dublin 2
 T: +353 1 6190505
E: anne-marie.walsh@hays.com

What makes Hays a great place for me to work?

Hays Ireland are endorsed by the Great Place to Work Institute as a 'Best Workplace 2013', so I thought I’d let you know what makes Hays a great place for me to work.

I've just passed the sixth anniversary of my first day in Hays. Do most people remember the date when they started a job?  Up until then, I wouldn't have had a notion of the dates I started in other companies, but I guess I subconsciously knew this one would be special.

Six years is a long time to stay in a company in today’s culture. Up until that last week in September 2007, the longest I had spent in one job was two years. For a number of reasons, including freelancing, I was like the ‘Littlest Hobo’, turning up somewhere for a while, then moving on. I worked in a wide variety of marketing roles in all sorts of companies and was fortunate to have only one bad experience. However, I had a good feeling about Hays from the moment the consultant rang me about my application.

Even my two interviews, with the MD and another director, were enjoyable experiences. And I must add this was not something I usually felt in interviews. On my first day, throughout my first week and through what I call ‘the full bedding in period’ (six months), everyone was really friendly and supportive. I was waiting for the catch - the horrible department or the nasty colleagues who had been putting on smiley faces because I was new – it didn't come.

I’m lucky, in that I really enjoy what I do as a career. In Hays, I got a chance to put all my skills to the test, which was great. I also have a boss, the MD, who really values marketing as a function and values my input, to the point I was invited to join the senior management team a few years ago. Couple this with the friendly, supportive staff and you have an environment where I was looking forward to get back to work after my honeymoon. And that is in no way a reflection on the relationship with my lovely wife!

As I mentioned before, I've worked in a lot of companies and one thing I've learned over the years is that the salespeople are always the kings and queens of the company, as they bring home the bacon. In my view sales is completely complimented by marketing, but I’m pragmatic enough to know which one most companies prioritise.

To be honest, my biggest fear when I was deciding on whether to join Hays, was working in a company comprising 80% sales staff. I had worked with sales people before and my friends and family had told me some interesting stories from their own companies about these brash, rude, ego types. That’s not my experience with Hays. Maybe it’s because it’s their mission to find the right person to transform an organisation and the right job to change someone’s life, that our sales people are incredibly warm and friendly, whether juniors just learning the ropes, or directors with over a decade in the job.

But yet they are still sales people, which means they need a certain environment to thrive – targets and rewards. I've always understood this, which is why I never had an issue organising prizes for incentives schemes that included exotic safaris and the US Open tennis final in New York. The way I looked on it was, if I wanted those types of prizes, I’d need to do that type of job.

Nonetheless, other non-sales staff had a different view, some felt as though they were inferior members of the company. When the task was set by my MD to analyse this view and how we could rectify it, I put my hand up for the project team.

So a team of marketing, finance and administration staff set about devising a survey to understand the needs of people who worked outside the sales function and began the journey to rectify it.

For just over a year now, we have been running the ‘Hays Ireland Ladders Programme’. Devised for all non-sales staff, it is a scheme for recognition and reward. It is available for all members of the company to say thanks to someone in HR, administration, finance, facilities or marketing, who has went above and beyond the call of duty to help them out.

It comprises a Ladder of three Steps. It starts with the process of making a nomination. For example, I can nominate a member of any team, including my own. The proposal is then reviewed by a non-biased party for suitability. Upon approval, the nominee receives a mail informing them they have a Step on the Ladder, the mail includes why the nominator thinks that person deserves a Step and the nominee’s manager is cced on the mail.

On Step 2 of the Ladder, the process above is replicated, but the recipient gets a treat of their choosing, worth up to €25. On Step 3 of the Ladder, there is the added bonus of a luxury meal with other staff members and entry into one of the incentive scheme draws, in this case, a glamorous trip to Paris for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse-race. After Step 3, it reverts back to Step 1, where you start building for your second ticket into the draw.

There was much excitement when the six names were pulled from the tombola in June and since then I have been beavering away, organising the trip. Then one of the lucky winners had to pull out at the last minute, so we got the opportunity to draw a new name.

This is where it gets a bit awkward. I am eligible for the Ladders Programme and was fortunate enough to get three nominations that were approved. However, with my involvement on the organisational side of the Ladders Programme and the prize, I didn't feel right putting my name into the hat.

And sure wouldn't you know, my name got pulled out of the blooming hat! I felt incredibly uncomfortable with it all, but that was eased by the fantastic support of people throughout the company. It would have been easy to shout ‘fix’ but they cheered my name and sent me congratulations - staff across the company, from junior to senior. And that to me is what makes Hays a great place to work!

Anyone have any tips for Sunday??                                                                                                  Tweet

Stephen Flanagan
Senior Marketing Manager

Ireland

HAYS Recruiting experts worldwide
16 Fitzwilliam Street Upper
Dublin 2

T: +353 1 619 0580
F: +353 1 670 4738　
E: stephen.flanagan@hays.com

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Hays is the Official Recruitment Partner of Manchester City Football Club.

Hays Ireland is proud to be endorsed by the Great Place to Work Institute as a 'Best Workplace 2013'. Click here for more.

Should staff be allowed to browse personal social media at work?

Hays Ireland recently ran a survey asking how much time people spend on social media sites throughout their working hours. Personally, I was surprised to find that 26 per cent of people spend 46 minutes or more during work on the likes of Facebook and Twitter. 

Social media shows no sign of slowing down with more and more sites such as Pinterest and Instagram joining Youtube, Facebook and Twitter keeping people occupied. And whilst a number of people do genuinely use social media as part of their jobs (recruiters being an example), they would still be in the minority.

Of course companies can block social media sites on their staff’s PCs, but is it worthwhile? It’s an expensive process and most people have smartphones in 2013. In addition, social media is just the latest in a long list of technologies in the workplace where you could worry whether staff will be tempted to spend all day socialising. However, employers were able to deal with the introduction of the telephone, email, the internet and mobile technology before social media came along.

The other consideration is - does using social media impair productivity? Productivity isn’t necessarily a result of time spent on completing tasks; it’s the output and quality of work. It’s commonly known that productivity increases with the inclusion of short breaks.  So you could argue that 5 minutes spent sending a tweet or checking their Facebook wall provides an outlet for employees to take a break and then get back to work more focused.

And what makes browsing social media any different to a flick through the newspaper, the smoke break, coffee run or the water cooler chat? Again, it’s just another option to add to the list of distractions that have been around for years.  

Hays New Zealand recently carried out a survey that showed one in four candidates (25.7 per cent) would turn down a job if they did not have reasonable access to sites such as Facebook at work. This has prompted the need for organisations to create a better work life balance, along with a level of freedom and trust in work.  And if you’re lucky enough to work in the likes of Google, you have the added option of the pinball machine or pool table in the workplace. A distraction or a rewarding break for employees?

The majority (57 per cent) of employees in the Hays Ireland survey said they spend between 0 and 10 minutes on social media sites, so we probably don’t need to worry just yet about drastic drops in productivity.  When used in moderation I don’t think using social media in work will not adversely affect productivity, in fact it might just improve it!

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Rachel Ashe
Digital Marketing
www.hays.ie  |  @haysireland

How to find a job on LinkedIn

LinkedIn claims to be the BEST tool to help you land your dream job.  It can certainly help, but it’s not the only tool to help you progress your career, you should also be using Job Boards and Recruitment Agencies. If you consider your LinkedIn profile as your CV you are on the way to finding the perfect job for you.  

Finding a job on LinkedIn takes time, the more active you are the easier it is to build up your connections, as well as establishing your credibility and reputation. Basically, don’t create your profile and expect job offers to flood in!

The key factors to finding a job include:

Is your profile up to date?

Broadcast your skills and talents so that they are easy for recruiters to find.  When searching for candidates, recruiters use keyword searches to identify those who are suited for the job they are responsible for.  If your skills, summary and profile have the right keywords you will be more visible to recruiters. 

Is your profile up to date with your current and past work information?  Write a keyword rich summary about you, your employment history, interests, education, industry and volunteer work. While it's important  to show your professional side, recruiters/employers want to see the person behind the profile as well. 

Update your contact details along with a custom URL: ex: http://ie.linkedin.com/in/rachelashe

Should you have a photo?  Having a photo is very important; people are 7 times more likely to connect with you when you have a headshot as part of your profile.  Take into consideration the reason for having a LinkedIn profile, it's to encourage employers to hire you so putting up a photo of a night out with your friends is NOT the way to go.  Be sure the photo represents you as a professional and isn’t too casual.

Join groups that are relevant to you and participate. Build your reputation and show your expertise by posting in groups, asking questions and giving your opinion.  

Aim for 100% profile completion – completed profiles rank higher in LinkedIn searches.

How to find a job? Have the job find you! 

You might be surprised to know some of the most effective techniques have nothing to do with actually searching for a job on LinkedIn.  You have to position yourself to be found by recruiters and use the resources available such as groups, your LinkedIn jobs homepage, alerts and premium job seeker accounts. Increase your visibility online and help build your professional brand.  If I search for “Rachel Ashe” my LinkedIn profile link appears on the first results page.  If a potential employer has your CV I guarantee they are looking at your LinkedIn profile. It is standard procedure now so double check all your dates and jobs to make sure they match the CV you are sending out. 

Join Groups – this will allow you to grow your network and activity and some groups have a tab where jobs are posted regularly.

Jobs Homepage – Log into your LinkedIn account and click on the jobs tab in the top navigation.  A list of recommended jobs is provided for you based on the information, keywords and skills on your profile.  Use the filtering options on the left hand side to find the jobs that are most suitable.  There is the advanced search tab on the top of the page to narrow down your job search results.

Job Alerts - once you have completed a job search – Save it!  Then create an email alert to tell you about jobs you might be interested in.  It’s easy, straightforward and keeps you up to date on new jobs.

Company Pages – target the companies you want to work with, find them on LinkedIn and follow.  When a company posts a job it’s published as an activity update on the company page and on the careers tab within the company page.  Check out Hays LinkedIn Company Page.

Job Seeker Premium – if you are really serious about finding a job on LinkedIn you should consider paying for an upgraded account.  There are three levels - Job Seeker Basic, Job Seeker and Job Seeker Plus.  The paid account gives you more information on who is looking at your profile and allows recruiters to contact you without being connected.

Once you have the profile set up start looking at how to Write Your Cover Letter, Update Your CV and Prepare For Interviews.  

Get started on www.hays.ie!

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My Internship Part 2

I had always imagined an internship was for a college/school leaver searching for experience. Sceptics would have you believe companies are taking advantage of eager jobseekers, prepared to use their skills and then discard them as soon as they are done with them.

What did I want from an Internship? First of all I wanted the opportunity to prove that I had something valuable to offer a company. Secondly, I wanted to fill the glaring gap on my CV in relation to my experience. Surely it is a no brainer, six months on the dole looking for a job or six months working day to day building up new experience? Thirdly, I wanted that feeling of not knowing anyone, of first day nerves and being completely lost in a company where everything is alien, I wanted the opportunity to learn.

Lastly, and most importantly, I wanted to find a way to put my time to good use, to shake off the feeling of whiling away hours, to drop the sense of frustration and replace it with accomplishment. And, as I keep hearing, it is easier to get a job when you are already in a job!

It has only been a number of weeks but from what I have seen so far I like it. I don’t know anyone, I was nervous on my first day and ironing my shirt every evening is tedious. However, everyday I am involved with a new project, all in areas that command my interest. I am not being used and abused, more accurately I feel like a valued member of a vibrant team pulling in the same direction. I’m told this is how internships are supposed to work.

So that was then, now, two months down the line things have changed, and changed for the better. Christmas came and went. The time in work was spent training on the systems used and gradually gaining practical experience with them. Time outside of work was spent getting to know new colleagues as the social side of Christmas made my introduction to Hays much easier.

Then on the 2^nd of January came news that I had not been expecting. “How would you feel, if when you came back from your break you would have a permanent job?” my boss asked, just before I was due to head off for an early January break. My initial reaction was, “with Hays?!” I presumed my boss had worked his contacts and found me a place in another company. No; one of my colleagues on Hays’ marketing team had been offered a job that she was not going to turn down. I was being offered her position.

How could I refuse? The prospect of a permanent position while continuing to follow the learning curve I was already on was not something I needed to be asked twice about. I have been dropped in at the deep end as my responsibilities have increased but by #jobfairy am I enjoying the challenge?!

Job fairy tales are few and far between these days and I definitely do not want to make it sound like every internship ends this way, they don’t. But there is one thing I would like to leave you with.

In August 2012, I was confident in my abilities, and was sure I would be back working in no time, having followed the usual process, application – interview – job offer. Come November, I was not that person. I was frustrated, disillusioned and down. The Hays internship has shown me that with the right attitude, hard work and a big old slice of luck, things can turn around as quickly as they fell apart.

Ok, so as twists go, it wasn't quite Dan Brown but if the dream job is eluding you, why not consider the dream internship.

Would you consider doing an internship? Complete our quick survey on Hays.ie.

My Internship Part 1

You hear it said that there is nothing worse than not having the time to do the things you want to do. They want more time; time with family, time with friends, time to be alone, time to get more things done. However, I can confirm that there is nothing worse than having so much time but not enough things to fill that time.

I was unemployed and looking for a job, time was the last thing I wanted. With every day that flew by; the hours and minutes began to gather pace and shoot out from my grasp, truth be told I didn't have much use for them as they went by. How many times can you tailor your CV or Cover Letter? Apply for another job? Or contact another recruitment agent? There comes a point when your avenues become exhausted and then all you are left with is minutes and hours to fill.

My job search began with jobs that I really wanted, jobs that were appealing to me. Everyday, Google would be hit with term after term, “Marketing Jobs”, “Advertising Agencies”, “Sports Marketing in Ireland” the list was endless as I scoured jobs.ie, irishjobs.ie and perfectjobsforyou.ie, the last one doesn’t exist but I presumed it did.

Three weeks later, almost every application drew no response. Those that did, trained me on how to scan an email for that most disheartening of terms, “unfortunately”. Interviews were few and far between and I was left disappointed by the ones that did materialise. Time after time I got the sinking feeling that the experience I had built up over the previous two years, working in marketing, was so specific to that particular industry that companies could not see it as transferring to their industry. For the love of the #jobfairy please give me a chance, just throw me in for two weeks and I will prove I can do a good job.

Apparently, that is not how it works. As the weeks turned into months my search for a job became more desperate. Hope was becoming my biggest enemy. I would apply for a job and then sit back and let hope take hold. I would imagine myself in new employment, meeting my new colleagues and settling into a job that would be both rewarding and challenging at the same time. My job search was beginning to shift; jobs that had previously not caught my attention were now receiving an application. I wanted a stepping stone to something better, no matter how disinterested I was in the job.

Christmas was now looming ever larger on the horizon, the thought of doing the twelve pubs, Christmas jumper night or any random night out during the festive period was eating away at me. At no time in the year is everyone in as good a collective mood as at Christmas. How would I survive the countless conversations with friends home from abroad, all about how I still had not managed to convince an employer that I was a right fit for their company?

Then, like the star over the manger I saw a light on the horizon. Hays Recruitment were offering an internship opportunity. To be honest I did not see the word ‘internship’ all I saw was ‘opportunity’. 6 months being trained on all aspects of marketing by the best in the business. The advertisement was full of life, opportunity and sparked something in me. Before I knew it I was sitting opposite the Marketing Manager trying to convince him that I would be a great apprentice and hoping against hope that my previous experience would not prevent me from being considered.

That is where we will leave it for this week, please do come back for part 2. I guarantee a twist in the tale worthy of a Dan Brown novel. Ok not quite, but there is a twist!