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Q&A: Dublin Ladies Player & Cpl Recruiter Leah Caffrey

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As well as affecting the way we work and live, the Covid-19 pandemic has also led to the postponement of many of the world’s major sporting events. Despite this, the All-Ireland Championships finally went ahead in October – three months later than originally planned.

This Sunday, Dublin ladies face Cork at Croke Park in the Women’s Senior Football Final. Cpl are proud supporters of Dublin Ladies Football and are extra proud of Cpl Recruiter Leah who is a defender on the Dublin team. We recently chatted to Leah about the upcoming the final, current trends in the sectors she specialises in and her advice for anyone considering a new role in 2021.

Firstly, congratulations on the success so far during this campaign. Despite all the disruptions in 2020, the All-Ireland Championships went ahead. Back when the pandemic began, did you think this chance would come around?

When the pandemic first began it was hard to see any sport being played this year. During the first lockdown we weren’t training together so things were very isolated. It was great to be able to train during the second lockdown collectively and in the run up to the championship.

There are precautions such as temperature checks, limited times in dressing rooms and masks worn indoors but despite all this it has felt relatively normal to be back playing games competitively.

Given the unique circumstances, does this year’s final have a different feel to it in comparison to the others you have prepared for?

I think the time of year, the conditions, the pandemic, and the fact that no supporters are allowed in to watch the games makes it feel different but we’re all very happy to be playing regardless. Having training during the winter months has been grim at times but has also been a nice distraction from everything that’s been going on.

You joined Cpl as a Recruitment Consultant earlier this year. How have you found it?

I’ve really enjoyed my time in recruitment so far. I joined Cpl in late February, just before the pandemic and spent three weeks working in the office before we began working remotely from home. It was an interesting transition and onboarding process, but I’ve really enjoyed it.

I’m working with both Cpl Finance and Cpl Technology and have been recruiting for the temp & contract accounting & finance team, while also supporting the tech team across various roles.

What are the key trends you are seeing within the Finance sector leading into 2021? Are there particular skills/expertise which are in-demand in the industry?

The finance sector has been busy this year despite Covid-19, but it is difficult to predict what 2021 will bring. The funds and banking sectors have been strong, and we’ve been an increase in companies hiring for accounting roles recently. As the finance industry is very resilient, we would expect things to bounce back in 2021.

Similarly, what are the trends and opportunities like within the Technology sector? Which areas are in high demand?

The technology market is busy with a steady increase in clients hiring across all industries, in particular financial services, and pharma. The areas where we have seen the biggest growth in over the last nine months are Cyber Security Technology and DevOps Cloud Operations.

What advice would you give to someone who is open to the idea of looking for a new job in 2021 in these sectors but unsure where to start?

Be open to opportunities and willing to explore all options. It is important to be flexible when applying for roles, particularly in today’s market.

I would also advise candidates to talk to recruiters. We have both vast and realistic knowledge of the current recruitment market, we know who is hiring and who will have growth plans in place for 2021.

We are happy to advise on CV structure and interview skills. The market is competitive but there are plenty of interesting and exciting opportunities.

If you are interested in a new role in the technologyor accounting & finance sectors or would like to learn more about opportunities in 2021, please get in touch with [email protected].Best of luck to Leah and the Girls in Blue this Sunday as they look to win their fourth consecutive All-Ireland Championship!