Remote Control – how to manage from home
Megan Shannon • September 29, 2020
A home like this comes on the market once in a decade. It’s spacious, fully renovated and designed to the highest standards.
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention and since those of us lucky enough to keep our jobs vacated our offices abruptly back in March, Irish employees and businesses have embraced working from home in whatever way they can.
An Irish Times article back in 2006 stated that 8.4% of employees worked from home. They reported on the benefits and drawbacks of a policy that was very much in its infancy. Fourteen years later and as we face an unknown future, a remote work policy is no longer a 'nice to have' but an absolute necessity for non-essential workers to keep their business afloat and their jobs intact since the global outbreak of Covid-19.
Remote working has been part of the commercial world’s conversation for a very long time. Some businesses have been successfully implementing it for years. Some entertained the concept but may not have actively encouraged it. Other businesses simply never considered it as an effective way to operate.
Of course, no one could have anticipated what has unfolded globally over the last year and the effect it has had on both our personal and professional lives.
For those working from home, numerous articles have informed us how everyone is coping with their new way of working. We are told that 40% of employees are struggling with remote working (study conducted by Behaviours & Attidudes, reported by the Irish Times 28/04/2020). The main influences here are inappropriate work spaces, poor internet connectivity, constant distractions and a blurred line between work and leisure hours.
However, it has been reported that 80% of workers will want to have the option of remote working when this is all over (Irish Times article 1/5/2020). The positive aspects can be attributed mainly to a non-existent commute, more flexibility over your work day, comfy clothes and more time for ourselves and our families. In fact, it has been found in a recent study published by NUI Galway that 30% of those surveyed actually claimed their productivity has increased (25% felt it has declined).
Furthermore, it has been reported that 60% of Irish Companies will be looking to implement remote working as the restrictions begin to ease. The same can be said for global companies. On Tuesday of this week, the CEO of Twitter shared a company-wide email which stated that they will allow their employees to work from home “forever”!
So it is clear, remote working is here to stay.
The question is, how will we navigate this in a more permanent way? Whether you are a team leader, team member, CEO or secretary, how will you take control of your team, your career and your working day?
There are articles upon articles which offer many tips and suggestions to help us answer this question. We know them all by now.
For employees; everyone from industry leaders and government officials, celebrities and entrepreneurs are encouraging us to stick to a normal routine as much as possible. Get enough sleep. Switch off your emails after your work day is done. Don't watch the news too much. Go for a walk. Go for a run. Get some fresh air. Take breaks. Eat well. Relax. Set intentions, make to-do lists and practice good video conference call etiquette!A home like this comes on the market once in a decade. It’s spacious, fully renovated and designed to the highest standards.
Your job should offer you a sense of contentment and purpose in your life and make you feel you’re on the right path. More and more people today feel disconnected and discontent in their work which hugely affects their personal lives. Deciding to change your circumstances is both exciting and unsettling. As a dedicated legal sector recruitment agency specialising in helping lawyers in the UK & Ireland with their next move, we understand the weight of this decision. If you're contemplating a change in your legal career, here are some key questions to ponder: Why do you want to make a move? Identifying your motivations is the first step towards finding a fulfilling new role. Is your motivation a higher salary? A better work environment? A larger or smaller team? A more flexible working arrangement? Thankfully, there are plenty of options for lawyers today so you should feel optimistic about finding what’s right for you. What are your long-term career aspirations? Measure up your goals against your current opportunities. Is the firm you’re currently in able to fulfil these? Can you see the path ahead? If not, this could be a reason to look at new opportunities. Does your current firm's practice areas align with your interests? A harmonious match in expertise leads to greater job satisfaction and success. A mismatch could be the reason you’re contemplating a move in the first place. If your current role doesn’t, could you activate a change to make this the case? If not, this could be a deciding factor in your move. Is your firm culture a good fit for you? A positive work environment can make a world of difference in your day-to-day professional life. Do you feel fairly compensated for the work you do? It's crucial to ensure that you're being rewarded fairly for your hard work and expertise. Is there room for career advancement? Consider the potential for growth within your firm and how it aligns with your own ambitions. If this isn’t available to you, it could be a reason to consider a move. Have you considered work-life balance? Striking a balance between work and personal life is crucial for long-term career satisfaction. Are there boundaries you could set in your current role to achieve this or are expectations beyond that? This is something to consider when looking at new opportunities. After pondering these questions if you're considering a move, we are here to help you navigate this process. With our expertise in the legal sector and extensive network of law firms & in-house legal departments, we can connect you with opportunities that align with your goals. Feel free to reach out for a confidential discussion. Your dream legal role may be just around the corner! Email: info@shannonlegal.ie
Even though we will experience some level of discontent in our jobs at times, loving your work overall can hugely affect the quality of our lives; Less stress: people who don't like their job often experience higher levels of stress which affect their physical & metal health. Loving your job means you will naturally enjoy a healthier lifestyle! More confidence: finding a career which makes you feel like your work contributes to the wider business will increase your self-confidence, improve your motivation and reduces anxiety. Higher salary/Career progression : if you love your job you’re more likely to want to push yourself, whether that’s seeking a promotions or nominating yourself for projects which will enhance your career. All leading to a more fulfilling working life. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source. We hope you are feeling the love on this Valentine's Day! <3
Shannon Legal Open London Office 21st June 2022
Making a move from private practice to in-house is a big moment in a lawyers career. Unlike the familiarity of private practice, there is a lot to navigate & to consider in terms of your career path & future goals.
As a recruiter I am in a unique position in that, when talking to professionals in Ireland about what they want from their career and consequently how it will affect their personal life, I am an impartial third party. I am not their employer or HR rep. I am not their colleague or peer. The conversations are completely confidential & honest. And, to be honest with you - whilst I think men & women are wonderfully different, I see less and less distinction between what underlines male and female motivation as time goes on. In light of #internationalwomensday2022 and it's theme, I want to share some observations which may be helpful in some small way to #breakthebias which is too often geared against women. 🙅♂️ Many MEN have concerns around starting a family and the pressures of a new job or promotion 🙅♀️ Many WOMEN want a career opportunity where there is travel involved 🙅♂️ Many MEN want complete remote working so that they can have a better work/life balance 🙅♀️ Many WOMEN are very aware that they are being underpaid and will not stand for it. To attract & retain talented professionals, is not useful or prudent to assume that the people you are dealing with are stereotypes of their gender. It's not good for the individual and it's definitely not good for business! Bias is so ingrained in us, it's difficult to shift. Shedding light on it is a step in the right direction. To all the amazing women in my life & around the world, and to the men who encourage & support us, Happy International Women's Day!
Deciding to make a change in your career can be overwhelming and at times, daunting. No matter what stage you are at in your career and no matter what you are looking for next, these tips will get you on the right track. First up, CV formation!
One thing I promised myself when I set up my business 6 months ago was to celebrate every win I had. As someone who likes to move onto the next challenge casually disregarding anything I have achieved, I knew that if I was going to be successful (and sane!) I would need to put in place some non-negotiable rules for myself. Since establishing Shannon Legal in October 2020, I have had some great highs and some valuable lows. I have been in this industry for over 5 years and I'm still learning how to ride the waves. I've been encouraged throughout my career to stop and pause when things go well. To notice the wins. Out on my own, I have found it's even more important. This last year has been tough on so many of us but if it has given us anything positive, it is the reminder that that life is unpredictable and plans often fail; so when things go well, enjoy it. So here are a few highlights from the last 6 months: The launching of this website. This was a creative project I got really involved with and I'm thrilled with it. I look forward to see it's evolution as time goes on. One of my first clients was with a company I had never worked with before. They reached out to me because they felt I would bring something different. Designing my home office! Being asked to speak at my first online event for the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association (DSBA). What an honour it was to talk to so many young lawyers at the start of their careers. The first placement – what a surreal moment. Something that neither client nor candidate probably knew how much it meant to me. A significant moment in the life of Shannon Legal. For me it legitimised it as an operating business. To be honest, there hasn't really been any particular bad moments, just big lessons learned. Mainly around managing my own energy and time; and learning ways to stay motivated during the inevitable phases of doubt. Recruitment is a great business. I love dealing with people and playing the role of match maker or middleman (woman!) between a person and their career. I also love that in my job, I simultaneously play that role for my clients; acting as the middlewoman between their business and their next key hire. It can be incredibly complex at times and at other times quite straightforward. It includes a lot of highs and disappointing lows. As an agent, you can do everything right and tick all the boxes but still, it's impossible to have total control over the outcome. That leads me to what I like most about recruitment, it teaches you so much about life. Sometimes good things happen when you least expect it; a new client reaches out to you; a candidate looks for your guidance and you find the perfect match. Sometimes you experience big disappointments no matter how much you try to avoid them. Sometimes, nothing really happens for a while and you wonder what it’s all about. All you can do is your best and when things don’t go to plan, carry on without thinking too much about it. And when things do go to plan, appreciate that your work has paid off and CELEBRATE! That is what I am doing now and I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me in this new venture. I plan to bring Shannon Legal to the next level in the upcoming 6 months and look forward to speaking with those of you who I can assist. If you are considering your next career move or interested in hiring a lawyer to your organsiation, get in touch with us by contacting Megan Shannon via email: megan@shannonlegal.ie to arrange a consultation
Online interviews are nothing new, but in the last 10 months we have had to get used to the entire hiring process being conducted online. Whether you are a job seeker or employer, it is just as important in todays world to make the best impression possible during the interview process. There have been many benefits to moving interviews online. Firstly, they save time - no more travelling to a potential employers office with an added fear of being seen by someone! There are also geographical benefits - employers looking to hire can expand their search to anywhere in the world and be in a position to arrange interviews with a potential candidate almost immediately. Of course, nothing will ever replace meeting someone in person. Virtual settings mean that simple yet very important signals are missed (studies have found that up to 93% of our communication is non-verbal) However, video call platforms allow some of that non-verbal communication to shine through and now, because our place of work is also our home, a lot more about the interview setting is within our control. Here are 5 tips we have collated for successfully conducting interviews online and apply just as much to the interviewer as they do to the person being interviewed. We hope you find them useful!
We spend about a 1/3 of our lives at work. Both employers and employees know the impact our work has on our life and general happiness. Companies state that recruitment is their biggest challenge facing their success and this year will be no different. So, It's important to get it right. Job seekers and companies don’t need to use a recruiter to find a new job or fill a position. They can do much of the work themselves. But, like with any big decision, it's good to get some help. A recruiter can provide invaluable assistance to both an organisation and a job seeker when navigating the employment market. Here are 4 reasons why; 1. A recruiter saves you time Looking for a new job or hiring for a new position takes time. Posting a job specification, searching jobsites, consulting your network, submitting applications, reviewing applications, arranging interviews etc. All of this time often goes unaccounted for as there are so many variables at play; you might have a very demanding job yourself, have childcare duties and internal HR departments might have numerous matters to deal with at any given time or you may not have a HR department at all. In dealing with a recruiter, the above tasks can be completely outsourced. Further, you can gain better management over the process by placing timelines on the search and working together with the recruiter to find what you are looking for in a certain timeframe. With budgets tight for companies looking to hire this year, I often suggest that companies implement a policy whereby when looking to hire, they place a timeframe on non-recruiter led searching (e.g. 2 weeks) within which time if the company can’t find suitable candidates themselves, they can enlist the services of a recruiter. 2. A recruiter increases your options When a company is trying to hire themselves, the talent pool which they attract might be restricted to “active candidates” i.e. people who are actively seeking to move job and will apply to the company themselves. A recruiter will be able to make introductions to “passive candidates” – suitable candidates who are not actively seeking to move job but who have registered with a recruiter, therefore increasing the chances of finding the right person for your company. Similarly, for a job seeker, a recruiter will be able to bring new opportunities to your attention which may not be released to the market yet. 3. A recruiter enables clear communication With everyone under pressure and companies striving to make 2021 a better year than the last, the process by which applications are received, reviewed etc. and communications between the organisation and a potential hire can sometimes become strained where little or no feedback is provided after an application is made. This is not done deliberately, but there might be too much going on internally for external applicants to be front of mind or an organisation may not have a HR department at all. This can have an impact on the perception of that firm or organisation within the market and can deter future applications from future candidates. A recruiter will work alongside both parties to ensure that communication remains open and strong between the organisation looking to hire and the candidate seeking a new job throughout the entire process (application to offer stage and beyond) so that everyone is on the same page. 4. A recruiter handles salary negotiation When an offer is made and the organsiation want to hire the candidate, things can fall apart during negotiation of the package when dealing directly with one another. This is, of course, not in every case, but asking your future employer for more money or questions about benefits can sometimes feel uncomfortable for a job seeker. In my experience, everyone is happier negotiating through a third party so that the end goal is met. Conclusion: With people working from home and companies operating almost exclusively online, hiring the right people and finding the right opportunities is even more challenging. As a recruiter within, I am here to assist with these challenges so businesses can continue to hire the best talent for their organisation and individuals can aim to get the most out of their careers, regardless of what’s to come in 2021. Thank you for reading. If you would like to discuss options for you within the legal industry or wish to hire for your organisation, contact me on megan@shannonlegal.ie to arrange a call