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      Author: Derek Perill

      Prepare for your STEM Interview

      Posted on by Derek Perill

      How to make a great impression

      Congratulations! you have landed an interview. Your CV jumped out and caught the attention of the hiring company, you’re one step closer to landing that dream job. Now its time to prepare for that interview and make a lasting impression.

      We have got you covered, below we have tips on how to make that lasting impression. We have broken it down into three steps

      • Before the interview
      • During the interview
      • After the interview

      Part of our jobseeker service offering at STEM Recruitment Partners and Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment is interview preparation.

      Prepare for your STEM Interview

      Before the interview.

      Research The Company

      Its obvious but its something that should never be overlooked. Know everything on their website from their about us page, latest news. product and services they provide and everything in between, know their website inside and out.

      Don’t forget to check out their social media and take note of key milestones, events, updates, or announcements. This will give you a greater understanding of what the goals of the company are and will cover you for the inevitable ‘’What do you know about us’’ question.

      Research The Interviewers

      Often you might have information on who will be interviewing you. Make use of LinkedIn and find out where they studied, where they were employed previously and what groups they are members of.

      This will help you build a rapport with your interviewer or interviewers. Building a rapport early makes you stand out helps make a lasting impression.

      Prepare Questions and Answers

      ‘’Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail’’ A famous quote from Roy Keane, spoken in a different context but it also applies for interview questions. Common interview questions such as

      ‘Tell me about yourself?

      Why do you want to leave your current role?

      What interests you about our company?

      Will allow you to demonstrate who you are your experience, knowledge and value that you can bring the hiring company. Here is 21 common interview questions from Pass my interview.com

      Know the job description

      Read the job description multiple times and highlight what skills it emphasises. Match skills you have with the job description and have examples of how you used those experiences in past and current roles.

      Use the STAR model to explain technical situations

      STAR is an acronym for

      • Situation
      • Task
      • Action
      • Result

      In the world of Engineering, Manufacturing, Life Science and Supply Chain its very easy to get bogged down by the technical details when answering a question. By using the STAR model, you can explain how your technical capabilities helped the company overcome a problem or situation.

      Prepare examples of your work

      It is common to be asked about specific work you have carried out in previous roles such as projects completed. Think of work you have done in the past that is relevant to the job description.

      Gather a list of intelligent questions to ask the interviewer.

      It’s not all one-way traffic when it comes to interviews, they provide a platform for you to understand the company better and understand the people in the company better. Interviews allow the employers to know if the candidate is serious about the position. The interviewer will be expecting you to ask them questions, here is a list questions compiled by the Business Insider to ask the interviewer it may help you on the day.

      The interviewer will be expecting you to ask them questions, here is a list questions compiled by the Business Insider to ask the interviewer it may help you on the day.

      During the interview

      Get Your Outfit Ready

      Make sure you have your formal outfit ready the night before the interview. Don’t be scrambling around the house looking for your belt just before your about to leave. Have everything ready, you have enough to be thinking about.

      Bring Copies of your CV and a Notebook

      Take five copies of your CV to the interview with you just in case there are multiple interviewers. This shows your organised and considerate. Having a notebook allows you to take notes of key information that the interviewer is telling you. This shows you are interested and serious about the role, however, don’t use a tablet or phone to take notes as this may be seen as ignorant or rude.

      Arrive Early

      Be at the interview 10 – 15 minutes before the interview. Do a recon of the commute a few days before the interview so you know where the building is, how busy is the traffic, where you can park and how long of a walk you have to get there.

      Make a great first impression

      First impressions last, people say it for a reason. Make sure you look professional check your clothes for stains and your shoes are shined etc. Try and display confident positive body language, give a firm but not too tight handshake and remember to smile throughout the interview.

      Treat Everyone As If They are The Hiring Manager

      This goes without saying but nerves can interfere. Just remember to treat everyone with respect including front desk staff, security personnel cleaning personnel, security etc. Your potential employer may ask for feedback from other employees and as we said earlier first impressions last.

      Respond Honestly to Questions

      It may be tempting to decorate your skills and achievements in our experience interviewers find honesty respectable and refreshing. Focus on key strengths and again use the STAR model to deflect questions you may think show weaknesses.

      Bring Them Back to your Skills and Achievements

      When asked a question use it to your advantage by bringing to examples of how your skills and experience helped your past companies. Keep your answers focused and concise as your time is limited in an interview.

      Do Not:

      Speak negatively about past roles or employers as this makes you come across as adverse in an interview. If you feel your not getting what you want out of your current role, try focus on the skills and experience you have gained and what you want in the short and long term.  

      After the interview

      Ask About the Next Stage

      Ask the interviewer about what the next stage in the process is. This shows enthusiasm for the role and will allow you to prepare for the next stage in the process.

      Send a thank you email.

      Send a thank you email to the interviewer, showing your appreciation for taking time out of their busy schedules. This shows that you are considerate.

      We provide free jobseeker consultation to ensure you are placed in a role that fits your needs and values.

      COVID’s impact on STEM Job opportunities

      Posted on by Derek Perill

      The STEM industry has sailed very well throughout the coronavirus outbreak. While the economic consequences of COVID-19 and the supply chain disruptions have touched every industry, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers and employers in the areas of science and engineering have remained robust throughout the pandemic. There are more job vacancies across engineering, pharmaceutical, medical device, supply chain, and technology employers than pre-pandemic levels (which were already high) with no shortage of career opportunities in the short to medium term and likely well into the future. It’s a great time to be involved in STEM industries

      Both in Ireland and in international western markets, salaries are increasing above the rate of inflation. Year on year ‘STEM’salary growth has been recorded across Ireland, the UK, EU, and the US, whilst salaries in other sectors across Ireland and most of Europe have remained below current inflation rates. Furthermore, people working in the STEM industry have a generally positive outlook: most respondents are content with their positions and hopeful for the coming year.

      It’s no surprise that COVID-19 was cited as the top issue to impact career prospects and salaries in a poll of 2,400 respondents (Ireland/UK/Europe) across all industries. With lockdowns and other restrictive measures have had a significant detrimental impact on the overall productivity of countries, survey respondents’ with STEM backgrounds expected more jobs to become available and further pay increases in 2022

      Impact of COVID-19 on Job security

      COVID-19 also appears to have altered people’s perceptions of job security. 33% of the 2020 survey respondents (data taken before the pandemic) planned to change careers. However, this year, 41% said COVID-19 had influenced their decision to look for a new job (a sizeable increase of 8%), while 25% thought changing roles was not the best option during the pandemic.

      Impact of COVID-19 on STEM Students

      Following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, STEM students’ internships were abruptly cancelled, and their academic endeavours were significantly interrupted. Many graduates were pursuing a STEM degree or profession or had landed internships and summer employment in STEM industries and their internships were canceled. Career prospects looked at risk in early to the middle of 2020 but once Ireland came out of lockdown 1.0, students adopted remote learning, and those with life science and engineering degrees once again were in high demand. Big Pharma, ICT, Construction, Civil Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain companies are all competing across Ireland for real STEM Talent.

      The Future

      It’s difficult to predict future events. Fortunately, Covid’s impact on the STEM sector was met with resilience and adaptability to rapid changes. Those in STEM careers are the Scientists, Engineers, and Innovators that will continue to tackle this pandemic and other future global challenges. In short, it’s a great time to build a career in the STEM Industry.

      How to Create an Attractive STEM LinkedIn Profile

      Posted on by Derek Perill

      LinkedIn is one of the most widely used platforms, with over 800 million people from 200 countries and territories worldwide. The main reason for such a high number of users is the economic opportunities in various employment sectors. With the massive number of users comes high competition, and hence, it is necessary to create a LinkedIn profile that is attractive and unique. 

      As a person associated with STEM, your profile needs to be optimized correctly for rapid growth and attracting high traffic.

      If you find it hard to create a perfect STEM LinkedIn profile for yourself, we got you! 

      This article discusses the most effective tips and strategies to help you create the most optimum STEM LinkedIn profile to increase your engagement. 

      1. Keep the head statement engaging

      The first thing that anyone will view or read on your STEM LinkedIn profile is your head statement. And hence it needs to be crisp and to the point without anything unnecessary. It should be 20 – 30 words short and easy to understand in one glance. 

      For example, if you are an engineer, write about your stream, place of finishing your qualification, and current job position. Please do not include your skills, achievements, or other information, as you do not need it in the header. 

      1. Be active and open to requests

      It does not matter if people connecting have the same background as yours. What matters is the number of connections you make to expand your reach. And hence, be open to requests and connections and try communicating and spreading awareness about your motive through chat.

      If your connection grows, you can head to emails as it is more appealing than the LinkedIn chatbox. 

      Also, be active and consistent with replying and solving queries quickly without making anyone wait for your response. Doing this helps set a positive impression and keeps the person interested. 

      1. Display a short and confident profile

      Your  STEM LinkedIn profile is the major source of developing interest in people that pushes them to add you as a connection. Hence, your profile needs to deliver maximum information in the most innovative ways. 

      The tone of your bio on your profile can either make or break your connection, so it needs to be highly engaging and confident. Try to include complete information creatively to generate interest among the readers. 

      Another factor that influences your profile is the length of the summary. Nobody likes reading shabby long paragraphs, and hence, keep your bio short and to the point. 

      4. Include your achievements

      Another crucial step in optimizing your STEM LinkedIn profile is including all your achievements. Be it big or small, every accomplishment on your profile increases your value and makes people confident about your motives. 

      You could also add images of certificates and letter recommendations, making your profile stronger. All your work experience, webinars, workshops, etc., can make a huge difference, so ensure making them a part of your profile.

       5. Keep it professional

      LinkedIn is an economic platform used by professionals to expand their reach and build an audience for their brand. You need to understand that they are not your friends or family, and hence, you must maintain professionalism at all times. 

      Be it your summary, posts, texts, or emails, all of them need to be written in a formal tone without any unwanted interferences. Even if you have been in touch with another profile for a long time, you still need to keep it professional. Interfering in someone’s personal life or passing personal comments can lower your image and ruin your connection. 

      These were a few of the most effective tips and strategies you can use to create an attractive STEM LinkedIn profile. Follow each one carefully and watch your profile gain an audience in the shortest time.

      The Benefits of Having a Diverse Workforce

      Posted on by Derek Perill

      STEM Recruitment Partners believe in making workforces more inclusive and diverse. An organisation can become more inclusive by understanding the benefits of a diverse organisation, actively pursuing workplace diversity and then creating an accepting culture. Having a diverse workforce means it is comprised of employees of varying abilities, education, languages, sexual orientation, cultural background, ethnicity, race, religion, age, and gender.

      Why Workplace Diversity Is Crucial For Ireland And Its Economy?

      Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics based fields like life sciences and Engineering dominate the overall economy of Ireland. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is one of the backbones of the Irish economy that creates several thousand STEM-related jobs in the country. Many of the world’s largest medical device, pharmaceutical, and technology companies are based right here, in Ireland. Billions of euros are being invested in Ireland annually by said multinationals and with that comes competition to build high-performing teams.

      Due to the high volume of STEM related roles being created right now, there is a big talent shortage in engineering, life sciences, supply chain, ICT and skilled manufacturing roles. There is high demand for employees from Technician and Engineer level up to Senior Management and Executive level and the current talent shortage is jeopardizing FDI and future progress. Adopting workplace diversity can act as a potential solution for the talent shortage. For instance, women working in STEM-related jobs currently account for only a minor share of the overall STEM jobs in the country. Hence, organisations in Ireland, specifically those related to STEM, can hire a diverse workforce to mitigate the talent shortage. A diverse workforce can also provide several other benefits, some discussed below.

      • Higher Productivity

      An inclusive and diverse workforce can positively impact the satisfaction levels of employees, which improves their performance and engagement.

      • More Innovation

      An environment of productivity and innovation can be fostered when individuals from different attributes, skillsets, and talents work together.

      • Increased Creativity

      A diverse workforce can help an organization expand its talent pool and access new information and ideas. 

      • Higher Financial Returns

      Companies moving towards workplace diversity can statistically achieve a higher financial return over other companies owing to higher productivity. Multinationals by nature have a diverse workforce and are reliant on diverse thinking to grow further into new territories, therefore the biggest companies in the world (most successful) alreadty have diverse global workforces. So when it comes to hiring in each individual country, why not continue to embrace candidates from other cultures and backgrounds??  after all, it’s part of what makes a major MNC so successful.

      • Superior Team Communication And Dynamics

      A team of individuals of different backgrounds as stated is often more creative and if nurtured can be far more dynamic as different skill sets and ways to approach a problem are explored and often yield the best solutions. If all of your staff are much the same (clones) where will original thought, idea challenging, and new approaches come from??

      • Attracting The Top Talent

      Millennials are expected to account for a major share of the global workforce in the next few years. Thus, organisations have to adopt the values preferred by millennials, such as collaboration, diversity, and technology. Thus, organisations can attract and retain the best talent by adopting workplace diversity. Future employees will not be interested in working with organisations that exclude people for being differnt.

      • Better Reputation

      Organisations promoting workplace diversity are viewed as socially responsible, eventually creating a better reputation among their customers. Moreover, workplace diversity can help Irish organisations to remain in touch with their different clients.

      • Boosting In Employee Retention Rates

      Workplace diversity helps boost employee retention. The organisation becomes more accommodative of many individual perspectives and characteristics. Thus, employees feel valued and accepted in such organisations. Hence can be significant for Irish companies.

      • Higher Employee Engagement

      In STEM-based sectors, a diverse workplace greatly enhances employee engagement. Teams will engage more while working in an inclusive environment. 

      • Improved Decision Making

       A direct correlation is there between decision-making and workplace diversity. Diverse teams have outperformed individual decision-makers. Ideas are challenged more and new ways to solve issues are explored.

      • Faster Problem Solving

      Organisations with a diverse workforce can solve different issues faster than other organisations. Employees from various backgrounds have multiple views and experiences, thus bringing different solutions, leading to faster problem-solving.

      Here in Ireland, STEM Recruitment Partners will be glad to assist organisations intending to achieve workforce diversity.