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

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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Get Dressed to Get Hired

“What do I wear to an interview? This is a common questions asked by job seekers.  While you might have little control over the interview questions you are asked there is  ONE thing you can take charge of - the way you present yourself for interviews. 

The way you dress could clinch that much sought-after, once in a lifetime job. Or  it may leave you hanging in the background like the forgotten pair of last season’s trousers. A survey taken in 2011 said 37% of employers decided against hiring someone due to what they were wearing. While many people say “You can’t judge a book by its cover” unfortunately it happens.  Therefore I wouldn’t miss a job opportunity by not putting the time and effort into my appearance for an interview.

Just a week ago a lady came for an interview with me whose credentials were very impressive, however, my first impression was "doesn’t she look very polished?".  She made a lasting impression in a couple of seconds and will spring to mind for future positions.

Of course the dress code in companies can vary quite a bit. An accountant will dress differently from a java developer or an advertising executive. So should you dress according to your industry? The hard and fast rule here should be NO. Regardless of whether you are interviewing for technology, finance or hospitality sector you should remove all uncertainty by choosing professional attire.  A suit is the safest and best choice for any interview.

Here are a few essentials to consider when creating this lasting first impression.

For Women  

• Structured pencil skirt (below the knee will be flattering on most shapes)
• A good fitting pair of black trousers - if there is a second round this gives an alternative to your interview wardrobe
• A fitted buttoned shirt/ high neck blouse
• Suit jacket - one that’s comfortable enough and easily buttoned
• Shoes - this is a tricky one as you can slightly showcase a bit of personality here but with caution

                - no open toe

                - no bright colours

                - no skyscraper heels

                - no ankle straps

• Accessories - these should be as minimal as possible, think of your school days, nothing too ostentatious. If you have any facial piercings, it might be worthwhile leaving them at home.
• No bare legs - a woman not wearing stockings is as bad as a man not wearing socks.
• Do try it on a few days before the interview to avoid last minute panic

For Men - A Suit

• A solid dark toned conservative suit
• A light coloured long sleeve shirt
• Dark shade socks 
• A conservative tie - no animated characters or flashy emblems but you have the opportunity to add some colour to your outfit
• Generally a pair of well polished black shoes will be best.

Most importantly fit is crucial - if the suit is too big it will look like it belongs to your dad!

You should also consider your grooming. For the ladies - painted nails, low key make-up and conservative hair style. For the boys, if you like a one razor, back and sides on your head, wait until after you’ve been hired and also consider your nails.  

Maybe you don’t want to be conservative, maybe it’s a dilution of your individual personality? But bear in mind, you will be competing for a job against candidates with similar experience and background that will present themselves more conservatively. You have to ask yourself is it worth the risk?

Dan Zevin, a well known author says it all with “Never wear a backward baseball cap to an interview unless applying for the job of umpire”

Getting dressed for an interview doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal just follow these simple rules and you’ll be well on your way to impressing what could be your new employer"


Susan Hogan
Business Manager 
Hays Information Technology
email: Susan.hogan@hays.com
T: +353 1 678 7649


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Confessions of a Serial Networker

Hi, my name is Richie Smith and I'm a serial networker.

It all started many years ago when I discovered I quite liked talking to people. In my last job I had a requirement to meet people and develop new business leads but it was in a fairly small pool of target clients. Since joining Hays I have discovered, to use a famous one-liner “The world is my lobster”.

And this suits me just fine.I attend many events, held by many organisations, trade groups, chambers of commerce and other umbrella groups. Some and are targeted at senior people in certain industry sectors; others are aimed at SMEs and ‘one man bands’. I don’t differentiate in terms of my aims at the event; to meet new people and make connections.

However, although I am a serial networker it doesn’t get any less daunting. Walking into a room full of strangers is scary and those minutes between arriving and actually being in conversation are nerve-wracking.And you don’t have to be a salesperson to be a networker. It helps with all forms of business.

In fact it even helps with searching for a job. Why do you think Linkedin is one the biggest social networks in the world?While Linkedin is a fantastic tool nothing beats face-to face interaction. So let me give you a few tips on how to succeed in person-to person networking. 


-Be consistent – attend lots of events
-Be interested in people – listen to their stories, learn about them 
-Learn their names – you’d be surprised how many times you’ll bump into that person again 
-Be genuine – people can spot fakes a mile away 
-Don’t try and sell to anyone – make a connection, not a sale 
-Bring something to the party – be prepared to share information and make introductions 
-Help the lost souls – look out for the person in the room with nobody to talk to 
-Pay it forward – people help you, you help others 


There is no substitute to knowing people. Establishing a wide network gives you great access to leads, tips and information which could lead to new business or a new job. And sometimes you even make friends.If you do connect with someone whether in person or online, establish a connection, stay in touch. Drop an odd line or make a quick call to see how they are, no agenda. 

You’ll be amazed how quickly your phone and inbox can come alive with enquiries and pieces of news and information that can prove invaluable.Hays has just hosted a business dinner which was attended by a British cabinet minister, senior politicians and over a dozen CEO and C-Suite execs from some of Ireland’s biggest employers and well known brands. We met some wonderful people who may or may not generate business for Hays in the future but hopefully we will be useful for each other when our paths cross again.

Like I say, I like to meet new people and make connections.You can do it too. Get out there. Find an event that interests you and go along. And when you walk into that event, take a deep breath and say ‘the world is my lobster!’

Richie Smith
Business Director
Hays Recruiting experts worldwide
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Career Zoo goes wild!

It’s been a couple of weeks since the third and most successful Career Zoo, the job fair for professionals. It was amazing! Firstly, the standard of the companies who participated rose considerably, check them here. A full range of industries were represented – healthcare, IT, telecoms, pharmaceutical, finance, manufacturing, management consultancy and retail. And there was an excellent choice of education establishments.

A big draw was the skills conversion courses offering new career opportunities for professionals. In just 6-12 months these courses allow individuals to retrain, free of charge, into a growth sector like software development, cloud computing or pharmaceuticals. I think these courses would offer a fantastic opportunity for those who are coming from the toughest industries like construction, architecture and engineering. Interestingly, we just did our own survey on skills conversion in the IT sector, which produced very good news for jobseekers (IT Skills Conversion Survey Results)

With such a stellar line up it was no surprise that the attendees went through the roof. It’s estimated over 10,000 people turned up over the two days. To be honest it felt like all 10,000 were there on the Saturday. There was a queue from the Mansion House all the way down Dawson Street late into the afternoon! I felt bad for the people who had to queue, but for health and safety reasons the staff at the Mansion House needed to manage the numbers. I hope that everyone got some value at the event after patiently waiting. Our stand was completely packed with a wide range of professional s offering their CVs and asking for advice. It fact it took a week just to get through the hundreds of CVs we received and contact the applicants.

The Career Clinic we hosted on behalf of Career Zoo was again a huge success and the walk-in slots were snapped up within the first hour on both days. I personally dealt with five, very talented individuals who welcomed the advice on their CVs, interview preparation and career strategy. However, I was surprised at how some of the attendees prepared for Career Zoo. It’s not very often you get a chance to have a face-to-face conversation with a potential employer before application. It’s a fabulous opportunity for people to make an impression and let all the great employers attending know that they should seriously consider them for a job. Nonetheless, it was only a minority who dressed formally. In fact there was one gentlemen with “Who’s your daddy” emblazoned across a t-shirt. You could argue it’s perfectly fine in the IT sector to dress casually to meet potential employers who might want to interview you, but I personally would have erred on the cautionary side and dressed conservatively.

In addition, it was quite common to meet people who did not bring CVs or who had ran out of copies. It seemed strange to me, that people would be content to queue for 20 minutes to get into the event, but not have carried out prior preparation. There can’t be too many events that gather companies of that calibre into one room wanting to hire people. I received CVs with addresses scribbled out on them, some missing numbers and one even missing a name! You can be sure, that the attendees who did their homework beforehand – researched the companies attending and the jobs available, produced well prepared and tailored CVs, dressed for a proper interview, tried to make an impression on the employers attending – would have been the first to get a call, or might even have secured an interview on the spot.

Overall, I think most people - exhibitors and attendees- got some real value out of the event and I believe there have already been hires. Credit to the organisers who have been able to build a bigger and better event than they had previously. Here’s looking forward to the next Career Zoo!

Stephen is responsible for the marketing and communications for Hays Ireland including the website, PR and social media. He is a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and is passionate about the development of marketing through new technologies.

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E: stephen.flanagan@hays.com

P: 01 8972481
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The challenge of retraining Ireland

A couple of weeks ago I spent a weekend at the Career Zoo event at the Mansion House in Dublin, giving career advice to a broad range of qualified people as part of the Career Clinic which was ran by Hays. We were absolutely inundated with requests for appointments from graduates, people currently in work and those who had lost their jobs due to the economic down turn.

The event was a real eye opener for me, as I normally only deal with the corporate market - which is pretty robust. It made me realise that there are a lot of people out there who are desperate to work, but have been failed by institutions like FAS who aren’t offering adequate career advice. For example, a PHD graduate I met was told to go and do a bookkeeping course!

In many cases these qualified individuals just didn’t know where to start. The first question that most of them asked me was– “Where are the jobs at the moment?”

The answer is that we are seeing skills shortages in IT, financial services and jobs within the multinational companies that require a second language – in particular, French, German, Dutch or any of the Nordic languages.

The next question a lot of people asked was how they can get into these sectors, when all of their experience is in Engineering, Architecture, Law or Construction? Or how do they get a career leaving college now? Most of them are very despondent as they see the transition into a new profession too big a hurdle.

Engineers, Solicitors and Architects are certainly intelligent people, with transferable skills and if they can’t find work in Ireland they will leave the country. So what’s the solution? I believe the next government needs to invest in these professionals and provide training for the sectors where the future looks bright. I don’t know how we can implement it, that’s a job for our leaders. But I do know it needs done and urgently.

For the graduates, there is a genuine shortage of jobs resulting in a surplus of educated people on the market. Most organisations didn’t run a graduate scheme in 2009 or they took graduates in reduced volumes to previous years. So they need to make themselves more employable - look at the sectors where there are skills shortages and study a related degree or masters. There needs to be a real push on learning a second European language. In fact it should be given the prominence in schools that Irish is given as it will significantly increase long term job opportunities and make Ireland an even smarter economy. Third level students who study courses with an internship should try and do this in a foreign speaking environment and apply their language as soon as they leave college.

We currently have a high unemployment rate of 13.6%, however we also have skills shortages in a lot of areas. We need to be able to retrain our experienced, highly skilled people so that they can thrive in Ireland as opposed to overseas and we need to create a mechanism to make this happen. Finally, we need to review the career advice for secondary and tertiary level students so they are better equipped to find work in the next decade.

A career in recruitment for grads - how to get from 300 to 8!

We recently participated in the graduate careers day in the Smurfit Business School. I really enjoyed having a chance to chat with the students about their career hopes and expectations. The main reason we were at Smurfit was to talk to students interested in a career in recruitment and to tell them all about our grad programme and what Hays has to offer. We had six grads start with us recently and three of them had completed master’s degrees in Smurfit. We thought we might get a head start on next summer’s grad intake.

The day was a great success. There were four of us in attendance from Hays. Myself, our marketing exec Caroline Kelly, business manager Sean O’Kane and trainee consultant (Smurfit Graduate Siobhain Smyth). I’m certainly glad there were the four, because there was a lot of attention around our stand and it wasn’t because of free sweets! We were providing something a lot more useful: advice on CV preparation, interview preparation tips and sharing our market knowledge. The advice went down a storm.

It was fantastic to meet so many young people with lots of potential and enthusiasm and for me the best thing about the day was getting a chance to speak to the students about a career in recruitment. I started with Hays over ten years ago and love the excitement and challenge of the industry. For some it was the first time they’d considered recruitment as a career and for many after speaking with us they realised that it was a career that ticked all the right boxes for them: best-in-industry training, excellent career development opportunities, a world leader in our field in 25 countries. But most importantly the role of a recruitment consultant is one that truly gives you a fantastic well rounded grounding in business.

Our grad programme this year has already been a great triumph. We had six talented trainees start with us in August and they are doing fantastically well. Right now we are in the process of selecting another eight ambitious individuals to begin their career with us in January 2011. We’ve had an amazing response, hundreds of cvs and I’ve personally spoken with nearly 100 of these individuals. So what can you do to improve your chances of going from one of 300 applicants to being one of the final 8? What will make you stand out?

Top Tips

• Always know what you’re applying for. I found that some people I spoke with weren’t quite sure of what it was they’d applied for – obviously not good! So don’t blast your cv around to any job that has “grad” in the title.
• Make sure your cv is relevant for the job and of high quality and supply a cover letter for every job, it really makes a difference.
• Don’t assume. Do your research on the job. Too many people I spoke with thought that recruitment was solely a HR job and hadn’t properly researched and considered all the other aspects to the role.
• Enthusiasm: You need to convince us that you are committed to the job as a career and are excited about it, enthusiasm goes a long way.