IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


4 Main Signs Indicating It’s Time To Switch Jobs

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


This is always an interesting topic to discuss. It’s important to be conscious of these signs. It may be the time you take the leap and take that next career move. In this blog let’s dissect these signs and see how each of these can contribute to deciding it’s time to go.


Developing the Ideal IT Recruitment Process

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


The Irish IT sector is rapidly evolving, and so is the need for a tailored recruitment approach to meet its unique demands. I’ve seen first-hand the impact of an efficient, well-designed recruitment process that resonates with the Irish IT market. This guide offers practical steps and insights for talent acquisition teams on building the ideal IT recruitment process.


Recruitment: A Barometer Of The Economy

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As we near the end of 2024, the recruitment industry is reflecting a wider economic sentiment of caution and uncertainty. Ultimately, there are a number of factors that are making employers very careful about hiring and growth. In this blog I will outline some of the key factors right now that are causing this. I will focus on the tech sector specifically, as this is where GemPool plays. But many of the factors outlined will apply across the entire economy of Ireland.


How to Tackle Employee Retention Issues

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As we navigate through 2024, I’ve been having more and more conversations about one pressing issue: employee retention. The way we work has evolved, and so have the expectations of our teams. What worked in the past might not cut it anymore, and adapting to these changes is essential for keeping our best talent.


Work-Life Balance in the Irish Tech Industry

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Having a good work-life balance is something that is imperative for both employers and employees. For an employer’s side, the better the work-life balance culture the easier it is to attract talent. From an employee’s point of view, it is more attractive to engage with a company that really prides itself on its culture and sets a standard throughout.


Navigating the Remote Work Revolution

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


We’re seeing a rise in companies going both ways as the months go on. Some are shifting back towards a full-time in-office model. Whilst others are going in the other direction, pushing things to full remote or even once to twice a quarter in the office. It’s an interesting time navigating the IT market. Below I will discuss some of the pros and cons of remote working as well as the shift in people’s thinking based on what I have seen being a recruitment consultant.


What benefits are important to employees in 2024?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


At GemPool, we spend all day talking to candidates about their salary expectations, but also the benefits they currently have. It’s not always the salary that is the most important aspect of the remuneration package. All parts of a benefits package have the ability to sway a candidate to accept an offer, and also retain existing employees. There are many factors that impact the decision to take one job offer over another, but the package is a very important one. In this blog, I will reflect on the tech market in Ireland in the context of benefits packages and focus on what candidates are looking for in 2024.


The Future of Software Development in Ireland

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


I believe that the software development industry in Ireland is poised for transformative changes. With advancements in technology and shifting market demands, the future of software development in Ireland is rich with opportunities and challenges. As an experienced recruiter, I’ve seen firsthand how trends evolve and shape the landscape of these jobs. Let’s explore the key trends and emerging technologies that will define the future of software development in Ireland and how you can stay ahead of the curve.


Navigating the Evolving Tech Market: A Mid Year Review & Outlook

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


It’s now June 2024. We are halfway through the year and the tech talent market continues to evolve and change. Recruitment across the sector has changed incredibly over the last two years and 2024 is no exception. In this blog I will try to assess the market right now. As a tech recruitment agency in Ireland, GemPool is at the coalface of the talent market. This gives us a unique perspective that, I think, is worth sharing here.


Must-Have Infrastructure Skills for IT Professionals Today

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In the Irish market, where technology is accelerating with competition, having the right skills can make all the difference. In this blog I will explore the essential infrastructure skills that IT professionals should strive to possess in Ireland’s IT sector today. This blog should not be used as a guideline as to what someone exactly needs to succeed in today’s market but as a rough outline for what one should strive for going forward.


Mastering the Art of Product Management Portfolios: Insider Tips from an  IT Recruiter

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As an experienced IT recruiter working in the Product Management space for some time now, I’ve seen my fair share of impressive portfolios—and some that could use a bit of sprucing up. Today, I want to dive into a topic that’s crucial for any aspiring product manager: building a portfolio that truly showcases your problem-solving skills, your visionary mindset, and your knack for execution. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get started!


Beyond the Portfolio: Essential Skills for Landing a UI/UX Design Job

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In today’s competitive job market, having a standout portfolio is undoubtedly crucial for UI/UX designers looking to land their dream job. However, in the dynamic world of design, where collaboration and problem-solving are at the heart of it all, possessing a strong set of soft skills can be just as critical. - Key Soft Skills To Succeed as a UX Designer


Navigating Software Development Salaries in Ireland

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Are you considering a career in software development in Ireland? Or perhaps you’re already in the field and want to benchmark your salary against industry standards? Understanding salary ranges for different types and levels of software development roles can be crucial for making informed career decisions. In this blog, we’ll delve into software development jobs in Ireland, comparing insights from recruitment agencies, including GemPool’s salary guide, to provide you with a comprehensive overview.


Why Embracing On-the-Job Learners Is Key to Future-Proofing Your Company

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by Namratha Ambat
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Why is the topic of embracing candidates with a growth mindset so important today? As a recruitment agency, we frequently encounter candidates who have the necessary qualifications, relevant experience, and, crucially, the right mindset—an outlook focused on growth and development. But, most often it’s these individuals who are overlooked simply because they don’t meet every single criteria listed in the job description.


Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Software Engineering in Ireland

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In today’s fast-paced digital world, software engineering stands at the forefront of innovation, driving progress across industries and transforming the way we live, work, and communicate. As technology continues to advance at a crazy pace, the demand for skilled software engineers has reached new heights. However, the skillset required to thrive in this dynamic field are constantly evolving, shaped by emerging technologies, changing market demands, and evolving best practices.


What You Need to Know About Tech Talent in 2024

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Whenever you listen to anyone talking about the world we live in right now, you often hear the word ‘unpredictable’ used. Our world is described as one that is constantly changing. This really does feel true. As we kick off 2024, and in the context of the tech talent market in Ireland, what can we expect to see? What changes are coming and what trends are emerging that we need to take note of? In this blog, I will attempt to capture some of these trends and changes.

So what should we expect to see becoming more prevalent in 2024, from a tech talent perspective. Well let’s look at a couple of the macro factors first.


Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Product Management: Trends and Upskilling for 2024

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Based on my experience working as a Recruiter in the Product Management space for a while now, I have seen how the product management landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the ever-increasing pace of technological advancements and the growing emphasis on customer-centricity. As we gear up for 2024, product managers need to be prepared to adapt, upskill, and embrace the transformative power of technology.


Startup Success Blueprint: Mastering IT Recruitment in Ireland

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Hiring tech experts for a startup in Ireland can be challenging at times because you usually have fewer resources and have to compete with the bigger companies who are able to dedicate huge budgets towards acquiring the talent they need. So start-ups and smaller organisations need to get more creative with their talent acquisition processes. It’s also crucial for startups to have team members who match the company’s culture because each person shapes how the company works.

In this blog I will look into these difficulties and try to provide some tips for startups who are trying to hire IT experts here in Ireland.


Nurturing IT Talent Communities

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Data Centre Guidance IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


By cultivating these connections early, we can tap into a rich source of talent, reduce time-to-hire positions, and enhance the overall efficiency of the hiring process.

It’s not just about finding the right person for the job today, but also about fostering relationships to meet the needs of the client.


10 Steps to Develop Your AI-Driven IT Hiring Strategy

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In the dynamic landscape of the Irish IT job market, talent acquisition teams and hiring managers are constantly seeking innovative approaches to fill crucial tech positions. With the demand for IT professionals soaring and the talent pool seemingly shrinking, companies are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionise their hiring strategies. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the creation of an AI-based hiring strategy, designed to address the distinctive challenges of the Irish tech industry and empower you to attract, evaluate, and secure ideal IT talent.


Navigating the IT Skills Shortage in Ireland

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Fundamentally, our clients pay us recruitment fee’s to find them talent. If they could do it themselves, there would not be a need for recruitment agencies. But our industry is still worth over €4 billion in 2023 in Ireland alone. The tech talent market in Ireland is still candidate short. This means anyone looking to hire talent is still struggling, even though things have calmed since the surge in post-covid hiring in 2021 and first half of 2022.


Understanding the Building Blocks of Employer Branding

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by Namratha Ambat
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Is your company brand something that is well known? Are you recognised in the market? Do you have the right associations attached to your name? If this is something that you have not made a conscious effort to impact, improve and establish, it’s time to focus on it. It’s not too late to hop on board, as it will make a world of difference.


How to Become a Sought-After UX/UI Designer: Skills and Strategies

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


So far into the year 2023, I have seen that the UX/UI design talent market has come to be a rapidly growing field as it plays a crucial role in the success of any digital product. Consequently, in the current digital landscape, the role of UX/UI design has become more crucial than ever before. As users and customers are becoming more sophisticated and demanding, businesses are realising that a well-designed interface can make or break their success.


Expanding Professional Circles - The Importance of Networking

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


“It’s all about who you know”

We’ve all heard the phrase that it’s all about who you know, but is it really a phrase, or just one of the best tips you can be given in life? I’d say it’s one of the most useful pieces of life advice you could probably receive, whether it’s your friend group or a network of people who can help you when you need it. Who you know is what genuinely shapes your life and has such an impact for you as a person.


Overcoming Job Search Challenges: Solutions to Common Roadblocks

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


It’s important to highlight the common roadblocks when it comes to a typical job search and the career path you choose to take. Some of the most common roadblocks I encounter when talking to candidates daily can be from lack of clarity to lack of interview skills. There are so many different factors that sum up a roadblock in a candidate’s career search.


Unleashing Creativity in the Workplace: Building an Innovative Environment

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Innovation and growth are the lifeblood of a thriving workplace, infusing it with vitality and relevance in an ever-evolving world. This is essential for any company to be able to grow and improve the quality of its products and services.


Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Apply for a Job

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Going down the path of job applications is no walk in the park. It’s a windy road with many twists and turns, but when you find that one ideal job that checks all the boxes on your list, it is definitely worth it. But during this search for the ‘one (perfect job)’, you could be tempted to apply to as many as possible, irrespective of whether it matches your criteria or not. Try to avoid this instinct.


What Are The In-demand Tech Skills In Ireland In 2023?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As the digital revolution continues to reshape industries across the globe, Ireland’s tech landscape is no exception. In 2023, the demand for skilled tech professionals is at an all-time high, driven by the rapid growth of technology companies and startups in the country. From Dublin to Galway, the tech sector is booming, and employers are seeking talented individuals with specific expertise. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top in-demand tech skills in Ireland and how job seekers can take advantage of the current market trends to secure rewarding positions.


Why We Won Best Tech Specialist Recruitment Agency in 2022

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Friday 25th November 2022 was an incredible night for GemPool. This was the night when we were recognised by the Employment and Recruitment Federation as the best tech specialist agency in Ireland. The night was very special and memorable


The Power of Project Management Certification: Why It Matters in Hiring

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


I’ve been recruiting for Project Managers for a good while now and I have seen the importance of having a project management certification. Not only does it demonstrate a level of knowledge and expertise, but it also provides a competitive edge in the job market. In this article, I will explain why project management certification matters in hiring, the benefits of certification, the various types of certifications available, and how to obtain them.

Today I’m going to share all the knowledge I’ve collected on Project Management while working with multiple clients across Ireland, which will hopefully help you in mapping out your career.


Evaluating and Perfecting Your Candidate Experience

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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The hiring process for any company can be a long and time-consuming affair, as it can reflect poorly on internal management if it is not mapped out efficiently and in a well-organised manner. Evaluating the first initial steps are important for passive candidates but it can ultimately be the difference between losing a good candidate and hiring a poor candidate.


Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Hiring Process

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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Recruitment teams have a big responsibility of attracting and retaining top talent in today’s IT market. The tech industry in Ireland is highly competitive, and recruitment efforts can make or break the success of your company. That’s why it’s essential to measure the effectiveness of your hiring process.

Measuring the effectiveness of your hiring process can help you identify areas of improvement and ensure that you’re making the most of your recruitment efforts. By tracking key metrics, you can gain insights into how well your recruitment strategy is working and make data-driven decisions to improve it.


How To Build and Maintain An Effective Remote Culture

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


“What’s the key for a business to be successful?” That’s a question that brings many aspects and opinions to the table. I personally think that having a healthy work culture is one of the key elements.


Journey of an IT Recruiter: Reflections on 5 Years in the Industry

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


After 10 years in retail I was made redundant in April 2018 and I knew I wanted a change. Not having any experience in recruitment, I took a leap of faith and applied for a position at GemPool Recruitment, and I was very fortunate to be offered the position. I accepted the offer and since then I have never looked back. I recently celebrated my 5 year anniversary and what an absolute wonderful journey it has been!


How To Get Reward And Recognition Right, And Not Break The Bank

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


When we talk about rewards in work, typically your mind immediately thinks about financial rewards like salary, raises, bonuses or commission. Recognition is a hugely important part of work. So many studies have shown how recognition drives engagement, loyalty, job satisfaction and therefore performance.


My Secret to Creating An Ideal Candidate Experience

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


With this being my first year as a recruiter in GemPool, it has been a treat to be part of a company that really does right by their candidates. Our culture and moto is oriented around this and our aim is to provide consultative advice throughout the candidate journey. In my blog today I will discuss my attitude towards creating a safe and positive experience for my candidates. I will also provide some personal examples as well to back up what I’m saying.


How to start a Design Career in Ireland in 2023

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As an experienced technical recruiter and former professional product designer, I believe I am in the somewhat unique position to “live” in two worlds, one being the world of business, consulting HR and recruitment, the other being the world of design, creativity, innovation and rapidly advancing technology. From this standpoint I wanted to talk about the sometimes tricky subject of Starting and Developing your Career as a Designer in the context of Ireland 2023.


Top 5 Insights for the Irish Tech Sector in 2023

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by Namratha Ambat
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


So, what’s happening in the talent market now? We came out of covid into an extremely fruitful environment for recruiters, with companies who were looking to grow and scale up at an extremely fast pace, offering above market average salaries, but talent was scarce and competition was high. Fast forward to Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, things have shifted within the IT talent market in Ireland and around the world, we have once again found ourselves in an uncertain environment.


Importance Of Building Your Brand As An IT Recruiter

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


If you want to be a source of accurate information for your candidates, regularly share those insights! If you want to be considered as an approachable person, a person candidates can relate to, can trust, can be friends with, and can have a laugh with, these are all well within your control as part of your personal brand.


Top Growing Tech Skills in Ireland

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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As a software development manager in 2023, you must know the market around you and the fastest-growing skills. The candidates that demonstrate an interest in your open positions will likely either have obtained these skills or want to learn them. With prior knowledge of these emerging skills, you can help map out a learning and development pathway for your existing team and utilise these skills when you grow your team.


Product Management and Project Management- What’s the difference?

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Ireland is home to a thriving technology industry and offers numerous career opportunities for professionals across all sectors. The fields of product and project management has seen significant growth in Ireland specifically over the last five years.


What benefits are important to employees in 2023?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


​At GemPool, we spend all day talking to candidates about their salary expectations, but also the benefits they currently have. It’s not always the salary that is the most important aspect of the remuneration package. All parts of a benefits package have the ability to sway a candidate to accept an offer, and also retain existing employees.

We completed our research for the recently published GemPool Tech Salary Guide Ireland for 2023 from August-December 2022. As part of this we also gathered data on benefits packages and today I am happy to share some of this with you.


Undercover Recruiter

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Let’s take a look at Recruitment which is notoriously a tough gig that may disguise itself as a piece of cake.

So what do you think are the key traits a top IT recruiter needs to hold?


How Do I Recruit QA Engineers?

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CV Assistance IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights Job Interview Preparation


It’s safe to say that there is a lot going on in the talent market and as a candidate, who has a certain salary expectation, you need to stand out from the rest. Luckily, you’re in good hands. I recruit in the QA space and have the inside scoop that will help you stand out from the crowd.


Rising Above the Counter Offer Culture When Hiring

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In today’s recruitment market counter offers are the new norm, especially in the IT sector. Think about it, if one of your top employees hands in their notice, you are going to do everything in your power to try and convince them to stay. There is such a skill shortage in the IT tech market that companies won’t let go of staff without a fight.


A Company’s Role During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


The importance of Breast Cancer Awareness month is mostly educating people about this disease, and the importance of early detection by doing self-checks and getting scans.

The good news is that most people can survive breast cancer if it is detected early enough. This is why education and awareness are so important!


Q4 Market Trends & What to Expect in 2023

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As we approach the end of 2022, it is fair to say that the tech recruitment industry in Ireland has been highly volatile this year. Market salary rates have skyrocketed for many skill sets, benefits packages have had to be reworked, working arrangements have changed fundamentally and the mindset around what people want from their work has shifted.


1 Year in The Life of an IT Recruiter

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


I started my recruitment career in May 2021, I had been working in retail for five years before that so I had no recruitment experience. I was going in as a complete rookie which was a risk, because I could’ve potentially not liked working in the industry or the role itself, but it also gave me the determination and motivation to learn something new and hopefully excel at it.


Top 10 Product Manager Skills To Boost Your Resume In 2022

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


I once heard that ‘a great product manager has the brain of an engineer, the heart of a designer and the speech of a diplomat!’ This goes without saying that Product Management is a versatile field and it is very important that for a product manager to remain successful in their careers they need to focus on both, their soft as well as technical skills, so that they are at par with the market and do not miss out on any opportunity.


The in Demand Tech Skills Across Ireland in The First Half of 2022

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


The IT industry in Ireland remains strong and resilient, despite global headwinds from inflation, the war and huge values dropping off the share prices of tech companies, especially in the USA. A recent report from the IDA Ireland boasted the highest ever amount of FDI (foreign direct investment) into Ireland over a six month period, in the first half of 2022.


What do IT Recruiters Look for in a Design Portfolio?

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CV Assistance IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights Job Interview Preparation


Have you ever thought about how Hiring Managers examine your design portfolio and how you can set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants? As an IT Recruitment Design Consultant, it’s my job to investigate a designer’s portfolio every day before forwarding their job applications over to my clients. This has helped me learn significant details on what works and what does not.


Are You Creating Diverse and Inclusive Job Descriptions?

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by Namratha Ambat
CV Assistance IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Did you know that the tone, words and the wishlist you use in a job spec will have an impact on who applies to the job you’ve listed? It’s very true, for example, women are less likely to apply to roles if they don’t check every requirement listed.


What Type of Job Seeker Are You?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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We’ve all been there. Going out on the job market, trying your best to come across as amazing and giving the hiring manager no other choice but to offer you a role and absolutely kill it in their company.

That being said, have you ever thought about how you may come across to hiring managers? What impression might you be giving that meant you were rejected from that one role you liked or prompted the hiring manager to fast track a recruitment process and beg you to be on their team with an offer? Well, here are a few examples of the types of candidates hiring managers deal with regularly, so let’s see if you identify as one of them!


Career Roadmap for Software Engineers

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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With a huge demand for software engineers in today’s Irish job market, software engineering is one of the most sought-after skills you can have. Many engineers believe that coding is the universal language of the 21st century.


Winning the IT Talent Tug of War

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


There is a constant competition for talent across all areas. This is particularly prevalent in the IT industry. In a recent article published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it stated that ‘by 2030, there will be a global shortage of more than 85 million tech workers’.

In the context of this future, it’s important that we discuss the competitive market out there within the IT industry. If we allow ourselves to dissect the small factors of how to win this chaotic battle it could ultimately make it much easier for Hiring Managers to attract new employees efficiently.


A Quick Dive Into Growth Product Managers

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Growth Product Managers, if you’ve been anywhere near the Product Manager job boards you’ve definitely been seeing this term all over the place, but what does it mean? Isn’t every Product Manager focused on growth? How do they differ from a regular Product Manager? Where does it fit within the Product team?


Can Recruiters Predict Recessions Better Than Economists?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Firstly, I am not an economist. I am a recruiter. So I cannot claim any level of expertise on the subject of the economy, BUT, one thing I have learnt from my career as a recruiter is that the recruitment industry is a good barometer of the economy. The recruitment industry feels it first when things slow down and also when things pick up.


How to be a Sought-After UI/UX Designer

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Are you looking to dive into the tech jobs market for a new design role? If so, I have a few valuable insights to share with you. I am presently working as a UX/UI Design Recruitment Consultant for GemPool. During my time here I have collected very interesting data and insights on how to stand out in this very fast-paced and competitive market.


How Does a Data Analyst Differ from a BI Data Analyst?

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Recently, while recruiting for a Data Analyst role, I realised how similar a Business Intelligence (BI) Data Analyst position and a Data Analyst position can be! So I felt it would be useful to research the differences, and then share these points so anyone applying to these positions can keep them in mind.


What Should Agency Recruiters Be Doing For You?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


The recruitment services provided by an agency must add value to the client. This is paramount. If this value creation is not there, then it’s all a costly waste of time. So the focus should always be on what the client needs. The obvious need is to hire talent. But what are the other compelling ways that a recruitment agency can add value?


Networking Is One Of The Best Tools For Career Development

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Networking is more than a buzzword in today’s industry. Networking is about establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with people. It’s a two-way street. If you open doors for others and deliver good opportunities, in return you will reap its benefits.


Data Analyst: Is It An Attractive Career Path?

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by Tanisha Barkakaty
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Data analysis skills will always be in demand. For most companies across various sectors, like finance and banking or retail and e-commerce or private equity firms; data plays an important role in shaping the growth and informing development roadmap of their company.


  What are the Biggest Hiring Trends in the Irish Tech Market Right Now?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


GemPool is working with some incredible tech companies in Ireland right now to help find them the right talent for their teams. As we talk to our clients to understand their needs, we have seen some trends emerging on what our clients are asking us to prioritise in our headhunting. Also, we are constantly talking to candidates in Ireland and across the EU every day.


Top 5 Tech Careers to Keep an Eye On

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


IT is the driving force behind the growth of modern businesses. Today we see the importance of technology to our everyday lives, and the many opportunities to launch a career in the IT space. With IT constantly changing due to innovation, it’s crucial to plan out your career path and choose a rewarding vocation where you can be impactful. Here are some emerging career paths to consider:


Top 5 Things to Consider While Changing Jobs in Cyber Security

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by Mark Prizeman
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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Has your role become a little bit stale? Looking for a new opportunity within the cyber security space but don’t know where to start? This happens to us all regardless of the line of work we are in but the hardest part for people looking to change jobs is where exactly do they begin.

It might sound simple but covering the basics first is the easiest way to start. Building a strong network, creating a CV that showcases your experience and the benefits you wouldbring to a new company are key.


3 Steps to Improve Your Design Portfolio

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights Job Interview Preparation


As a Recruiter for UX, UI and Product Designers, I get to look at dozens of portfolios a day. My job is to figure out whether the work showcased demonstrates the right skills that the hiring manager is looking for. As enjoyable as it is to wander through peoples’ work, it has become a much quicker process with experience. I can now identify whether a candidate is suitable for a role within seconds. It has come to my attention that this rapid decision-making process is a norm in the design industry. A trained eye can pick up what it needs and move on.


Cloud Engineering- Everything You Need to Know

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Cloud Engineering has gone from strength to strength with the emergence of the public cloud offerings from AWS, Azure, and GCP. This has led to greater demand for cloud engineers to build or maintain cloud infrastructure. A career in Cloud Engineering is very appealing with the vast opportunities for learning, especially the number of certificates on offer from the cloud providers.


The Engineering Skills Gap and How We Got Here

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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I started a civil engineering degree in 2006… why wouldn’t I; Construction in Ireland was absolutely booming, the country was borrowing and spending more than ever before.What the majority in this country didn’t realise at that time was that we were on the precipice of a financial collapse that would be felt around the world.


Top 5 Highest in Demand Tech Jobs In Ireland

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by Sean Whelan
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As we come to the end of 2021, it’s time to have a quick look over the different job titles that have been most popular within the tech industry in Ireland. For Hiring Managers, it’s an important trend to keep an eye on as it represents what this year has been like in terms of job flow in the industry and might indicate what 2022 could look like. These insights are key when considering hiring plans for 2022 and potentially timelines for attracting ‘high demand’ skill sets.


How Can You Prevent Burnout in the Team You Lead?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


As a Leader, you must be people focused in your approach and think about the human behind the computer screen. Everyone has different stresses and things going on at any time, so burnout may occur in some people and not others. Leading with empathy, understanding and openness will allow you to be effective in trying to manage burnout in your team/s.


Latest Project Management Trends in IT

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


With the introduction of new technology, adaptable methodologies and leadership approaches, Project Management continues to change and evolve.

Add on the innovative pressure of a global pandemic and it’s hard to keep up.

As a Project Manager, it is important to stay ahead of the curve, by keeping up with the latest technologies and trends. After speaking to Hiring Managers, Project Managers and researching industry trends, I have compiled the 5 latest project management trends.


How Should Job Seekers Deal with Job Search Frustration?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


A popular topic of conversation at this moment seems to be around job search frustration across the industry. Applying to multiple jobs and getting nowhere, as an unemployed individual or for someone looking for a change, can be terribly frustrating. It can get so demoralising and mentally draining that some people tend to give up and just accept their fate. It gets worse when you hardly get feedback from a rejection and it’s understable that not everyone is strong enough to keep going in such situations.


Looking To Switch Jobs? Here Are Things To Consider!

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


A man once gave me a piece of advice that never left me, and while it may have been a throw-away line from a man I have always admired; it’s relevance to this piece of writing is a reminder that you can strategize all you want but you can’t account for unknowns.

His advice was “A good guess is better than a bad measure”

The most successful changes personally, in my career have come after making a well thought out and measured decision.


Importance of Career Goals to Software Engineers and their Employers

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Career goals are important for Software Engineers as they will keep you focused and keep you improving. Goals are targets to aim for, steps to follow with opportunities for progression. Let’s look at career goals, the different types, some examples, common mistakes and why employers should be interested in hearing about an individual’s career aspirations.


What’s Happening to Salaries in the Irish Tech Market?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In this blog I will propose three reasons why the market has seen so much flux. This analysis is based on what we are hearing from the market, in Ireland, and revolves predominantly around technical skill sets in software engineering roles up to management level. So this relates to mid level, senior level, and lead level software engineers.


How to Win the IT Talent War

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Approaching, competing in, and winning the IT Talent War is a topic so broad and multi-faceted, that it would be worthy of an entire academic semester’s worth of study and debate. The fact is, there is no tried, tested and proven method. There is no single golden bullet. You need to look at marketing, and how and where you’re sourcing.


Key Considerations for Onboarding New Hires in a Hybrid World

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


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We are seeing companies get creative with how they are approaching the future and in all cases, these decisions will impact other parts of the company too. For example, if a role is fully remote or hybrid or fully onsite, how does this impact how you onboard someone into that role?

Today I am going to outline the key considerations when onboarding new team members going into hybrid roles, and make some suggestions on how to address these potential issues.


Why Do You Lose Employees?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


The competition for tech talent has never been as strong. With a vibrant indigenous tech scene, coupled with the continued rise of large multinationals setting roots in Ireland, employers need to find creative ways to attract, but also retain staff. Today I wanted to explore why do employees flirt with the idea of leaving in the first place? What are the reasons behind them responding to messages from their competitors?


How to Succeed in a Hybrid Workplace

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In this blog I will answer some questions that are widely concerning managers today as we prepare for the new way of working. Surely the 40 hours a day in an office 5/6 times a week is now a choice rather than something that is forced upon us. Maybe, maybe not! In this blog we will explore why in some cases this will work and in other cases it won’t and provide a few tips on how to succeed in a hybrid workplace.


The 2 Key Components of Performance Management

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Performance management is a subtle art. I believe there are two components to effective performance management. Firstly you need to ensure that you have created the right environment, then it’s about the measurement of performance. As the old saying goes, what gets measured, gets done.


Are You Aware Of The Advantages Of Using Specialist Recruiters?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Recruitment companies have been around for a long time, but the industry has seen huge growth over the past number of years. This is because an increasing number of companies are realising the value that they can add, and recruiters are becoming more and more specialised in specific areas to cater for their clients needs.


How to Attract Tech Talent to a Start-Up - 3 Techniques That Work

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


At GemPool, we have worked with tech start-ups going all the way back to 2005. This is our bread and butter. It’s fantastic that Ireland has such a vibrant tech start-up scene.


Current Overview on IT Recruitment and What to Expect in Q3

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


At GemPool we have found that 2021 has been a strong year. We have noticed large recruitment activity in the IT sector and seeing upward trends as we move into Q3.


5 Ways of Attracting Tech Talent in a Remote World

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by Cathal McAliskey
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Over the past year a lot of us have got used to our home offices and kitchen tables and have adopted working from home. What the pandemic has shown us is that we don’t need to be in a physical location to complete our job responsibilities and that commuting is time wasted.Going forward many tech companies will adopt more flexibility around remote working and this raises the question – How can Companies Attract Talent in a Remote World?


Why Set Business Goals for Employees?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Organisations have goals. These can be financial goals or sales goals, or growth in headcount goals etc. When you are working within an organisation, you will often hear about these goals at team, division or ‘all-hands’ meetings.

This is all very important as the employees of a company should know what they are trying to achieve, together. But these goals very often don’t directly impact individual employees, day to day.


What are The Typical Career Paths for a Business Analyst?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


According to Wikipedia, a Business Analyst is a ‘person who analyses an organisation or business domain and documents its business, processes, or systems, assessing the business model or its integration with technology’. The aim of a Business Analyst, or BA, is to find improvements in these processes or systems.


How to Deal with Being Spoilt for Choice with Job Offers

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


If you have secured more than one job offer, its brilliant news but also presents a challenge. How do you decide which offer is the best for you? What criteria should be driving your decision?


Do you Really Know What’s Going on in Your Remote Team?

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Do you have responsibility over the performance of other members in your team? Have you changed how you manage those team members if they are now remote working and previously weren’t?


Top Pointers on Creating a Successful Hybrid Working Model

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Now that we are all accustomed to our working from home life, how are we going to re-adapt to going back to the office? Recently the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon & Goldman Sachs announced that they plan on bringing everyone back to the office in a structured way, over the course of the next few months. Perhaps the great return is upon us, or is it?


The Lessons I Learnt About Personal Career Development

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Everyone’s experience of their work and career is very unique and personal. But there is one thing that everyone has in common. It’s in your control. You have the power to influence your own actions and the direction your career goes. You have the ability to make things happen.

One thing I would tell myself younger self finishing up in college would be to proactively go after what I wanted in my career.

The key is simple planning, goal setting and action. For anyone who is currently meandering in their career or feels like they are not in control of it, why not try out these 5 steps to managing your personal career development.


What Kind of Professional Goals Should You Create?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Planning for the future is not always the easiest task in-hand, but when it comes to your career, it’s vital in order to grow within your chosen path. Setting a professional goal can help you focus more on getting to where you want to be (in let’s say 5 years), but first of all it is important to figure out where it is exactly that you want to see yourself.


How can Defined Career Paths Help with Recruitment

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by Michael Lantry
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Having clear career paths and career ladders within a company has a number of benefits. The obvious one is that it provides a framework for existing staff to progress their career, learn new skills and continue to be challenged. But there are less obvious benefits worth paying attention to.


What Would You Change About Your Hiring Process?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


In short, there were many. Far too many to go into here, so below I’ve highlighted just a couple from each end of the spectrum.


IT Recruitment Market Insights for 2021

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Despite economic uncertainty heading into 2021, the outlook for IT professionals is a positive one. If the COVID-19 pandemic has done one thing for the IT industry, it’s that it has shone a very bright light on the increasingly critical nature of digital IT tools and infrastructures. Below are a few stats to give you an idea as to how the sector has grown.


Social Media and It’s Importance as A Recruitment Tool

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by Namratha Ambat
IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Social recruiting is booming as a trend in today’s environment as a substantial level of employers indicate that quantity and quality of applications they receive through social channels are high. According to Undercover recruiter, 79% of job seekers are scanning through social media for job opportunities. Looking for job opportunities or looking for job seekers, social platforms are increasingly growing as a popular go-to option.


 How is the Job Market for IT Project Managers?

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


​We do however, often see project managers change jobs around this time of year and this can be due to a contract ending or they’re simply seeking a change. Project Managers are always in high demand, there’s usually a wealth of jobs for candidates to apply for.

So how is the market looking now?


Strategic Resource Planning During a Pandemic

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


There are any number of ways to approach resource planning, with no, single, tried and tested method proven to succeed and anyone who tells you otherwise is no different to that guy who pops up on Instagram now and then trying to sell you 7 simple steps to being rich and successful.


Top 5 Reasons to Exclusively Work with One Recruiter

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Sometimes the excitement of making a new career move can be daunting. You might work, be in school or taking care of your family. The thought of having to update your resume, find advertised jobs, apply to various career pages and hope then that you get responses can seem like a lot of hassle at best, or worse, fill you with dread and anxiety. Working with a recruiter can make the whole process easier.


Importance of Short-Term Restructuring - Flexible Staffing Offerings

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IT Jobs and Recruitment Insights


Now those companies need to find an interim solution that might be more cost effective then using the Managed Services company that set it up. So, to get an effective short-term plan, you need to look into the following steps: