GarryB

I had the pleasure to drive a team all over Ireland this weekend that were taking part in the 4 Peaks Challenge. It's an excellent cause and I felt privileged to be involved with a group that were so focused to raise money for a well deserved cause.

The challenge started on Thursday afternoon with the 2 teams involved from CPL and Careers Register meeting outside CPL HQ. The first real challenge was us trying to load all the gear required into a Ford Galaxy as well as squeezing the 6 people in. We won't mention the person who thought 3 pairs of jeans were needed to complete the night life part of this challenge on the CPL team. We also won’t mention the person from the Careers Register team who realised that bringing his boots would be a good idea when he was just outside Tralee. Arriving safe and sound on Thursday evening in the Lake Hotel in Killarney an air of calm and tranquillity descended over the team as we mentally prepared for the next 3 days.

Starting relatively early on the Friday morning the 2 teams embarked from the International Youth Hostel in good spirits. The climb of Carrantuohill was tough and challenging and from me talking to people who had done this before this was probably the toughest trek set out yet by Focus Ireland. Everyone completed it and everyone admitted while demanding it was rewarding. The silver lining in the low lying cloud was probably that they couldn’t see how far they would fall if they were to take the wrong step.

A shower, a lasagne dinner and some birthday cake in the hostel set up everyone for the trip to Galway that was to come. Unfortunately en route we had an attack of cramp and the subsequent recovery on the side of the road coupled with a sunburnt face inspired a local woman in Adare, Limerick, to run across the road to see if our cramp victim was suffering from a heart attack.   

We arrived in Galway in good spirits but much to the shock of the ladies on the team the 3 guys and 3 girls from our team were bunking in together in the hostel. So a quick spray of deodorant and we were on our way to meet up with the rest of our Focus Ireland 4 Peakers to have a much deserved pint, and at 3 euro for a pint of Guinness it would have been rude not to have 2. We also arranged 21 kisses for the Birthday girl in our group much to the delight of the male members of the other teams. Back to the hostel the 6 of us bedded down for the night and some unfortunate snoring led to one of our Peakers having to sleep on the couch in the common area. On awaking though he did find some cartons of Orange Juice and a statue of JC himself at his feet, both joined us for the rest of journey.

We hit the road to Luisburgh and unintentionally we took the scenic route that encompassed Cliffden and a trip around Killary Harbour. Arriving safely at the church in Dundon the 4 Peakers of CPL embarked up Mweelrea meeting their Careers Register team mates along the route. Tough going again but at least in the sunshine this time on returning a quick shower, followed by a quick bite we set off to Newcastle, Co Down via Enniskillen where we had a quick pit stop where both teams had a chance to relax just for the 1^st time since starting the challenge. With our bellies full onwards to Newcastle we went arriving at nearly 1am, the Husband and Wife team in the Amble In B&B greeted us warmly, dispatched us to bed and were up and ready for us at 5am to give the team some tea and toast before they started for Slieve Donard at 6am. Some said it was tough, some found it extremely tough but when I picked my Peakers up that morning after completing their climb there were smiles on their faces ... “we actually enjoyed that one”, was the comment. On returning to the B&B for a well deserved fry, the comment from the owner of the B&B was “I told you it was only a walk up a hill”  

On the road again and we made good time to reach the base of Lugnaquilla and for the Peakers to face their final and what turned out to be their toughest challenge yet. Thunder greeted them as they got their kit bags ready but nothing was going to deter them now. Off they set up the mountain climbing in continuous rain and if it was tough going up it was even tougher coming down but complete it they did as a team, motivating pushing each other all the way.

The teams enjoyed a much deserved meal and a few pints in the Glen of Imaal bar that night but the common consensus seemed to be “Was it tough, yeah, Will we do it again next year, Hell Yeah!”

Personally I would like to say well done to our two teams and to all the teams who completed the challenge. In excess of €350,000 was raised by the teams for the much deserved charity, Focus Ireland.

Getting Ireland back to Work

As a recruiter my purpose is to source the best possible person available to do the job I was instructed to fill. Unfortunately too often I’m forced to look outside Ireland for these skill sets.

If you work in IT in Ireland and whether you are looking for work or not I’m looking to hear from you. What I want to put together is the most comprehensive group in Ireland of Irish professionals for Irish professionals.

Think about it ..... A professional network that will actually work for you!

Register here today http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2973385&trk=hb_side_g

There is a massive change happening in how people find jobs in this country. No longer is the come and get me attitude of the Celtic Tiger going to hold water with current and future employers.

People get proactive, get a five year plan together, get networking. There are companies hiring out there, there are companies asking “Who do you know who can do this job” – why not be that person.

So listening well is a most important interview skill.

But why do so many find it difficult to listen well? After all, so long as our hearing is not actually impaired we can hear most of what is going on around us. However many of us will find listening difficult for a number of reasons:

o if there is anything we might consider unusual, or irritating about the speaker's appearance, voice, accent or pronunciation we allow it to put us off;

o we naturally think at about four or five times the speed at which we talk, so when someone else is doing the talking we can find a lot of time to allow our minds to wander;

o our own thoughts are generally of more concern to us and we find it easier and more pleasant to tune in to these than concentrating on what someone else is saying;

o since we were quite young we have taught ourselves to listen to many things at once, and actually pay only the minimum attention to any of them, so it becomes difficult to pay attention to one thing for a longer period of time;

o as soon as we think we've heard enough to establish in our minds what response is needed, we stop listening to the speaker and start composing our answer.

Misunderstandings arise from failing to pay full attention in many situations, but in the interview it could cost you the job you really wanted

So next time you are in an interview situation - LISTEN!!!


Next time - Body Language .... What is your body saying about you