Colman Collins is the co-founder of Collins McNicholas Recruitment and HR Services Group, as well as the author of the must-read ‘How to Succeed in your First Job’. With over 40 years of experience in recruitment and human resources, he reveals his top tips for employers and employees to the Galway Advertiser in this insightful Q&A.
Q: What made you decide to set up a recruitment consultancy?
A: I was fortunate enough to get into HR as a 24-year-old and having spent 13 years working for some big multinationals such as Nortel Networks, Westinghouse and Thermo King, I began to think “Am I going to do this for the rest of my life?” I thought there was an opportunity to establish an executive and professional Recruitment & Human Resources consultancy in Galway as there was no recruitment company in that space and I felt it was only a matter of time before one set up. I believed the first one to set up, and who did it properly, would make it difficult for others to follow.
Hence the establishment of Collins McNicholas Recruitment and HR Services in 1990.
Q: How do you think the jobs market in Galway will look in the next five years?
A: It’s hard to say definitively, but I think the trend away from high-volume manufacturing roles to more service roles will continue. I think there will be more roles in data and automation. AI is going to be a big player too and it is going to change how many people work. You’re going to see more indigenous and multinationals in the MedTech space. I think the days of high-volume multinational start-ups are in the past, we’re going to see smaller companies and a lot more online businesses as well. You are going to see a lot of small niche manufacturing companies setting up close to their multinational clients as these large companies want more control over their supply chains. Those are some of the trends that are likely to gain some momentum in the five-year timeframe.
Q: What makes Galway so attractive for prospective employees and companies?
A: Galway ticks all the boxes. It’s a vibrant place for young people embarking on the first steps of their working lives. It’s also an attractive place for families and is well-serviced by high-quality schools and universities. It’s a nice mixture of town and country. Compared to some other towns and cities Galway sells itself really well. Everyone is under the Galway flag; everyone is on the same team. Galway is a welcoming city, we have more people from outside the city than ever.
When pressed for any negatives, Colman mentions the lack of affordable housing, and the absence of a Gluas-style light rail system in the city as one sees in many similar size cities in Europe. However, the Waterford native has no hesitation in highly recommending Galway as a destination to settle in and a wonderful city.
Q: Are new graduates prepared for the working world?
A: I think they are much better prepared than they were when Collins McNicholas started up 35 years ago. I think employees going into companies are a little less naïve and a little less immature than they were back in the day. I also think that colleges are doing a good job of imparting the theoretical knowledge that people will need in work. That’s where my book came in handy as well. It helps talk about the practicalities of settling into a new job and the skills you need to acquire quickly. It also talks about typical work-life situations that may arise in companies that you might not have encountered in your course.
Q: Do you think the ‘snowflake’ designation is unfair to young people?
A: I don’t like those kinds of stereotypes. Young people may have different values and beliefs, but who is to say those aren’t right? I think people of my vintage probably worked far too hard for far too long and missed out on important parts of their personal development, their family life, and their children. I think this generation looks at life in a more rounded fashion, and I think it’s up to the employers to try to accommodate that rather than disparage that.
Q: Would you say that the job market in Galway is competitive?
A: The jobs market in Galway has never been more competitive. As we are living in a time of full employment this is a candidates market now and that’s a hugely different dynamic than applied at the time of the crash in 2008. Interviews have become a two-way process now; it’s as much the interviewee interviewing the employer as well as the employer interviewing the job applicant.
Q: How important is doing your research before applying for a job?
A: You have no business turning up for an interview without doing your research. You shouldn’t even submit your application without doing your research. In a full employment environment, why would you think so little of yourself as to apply for a job or a company you don’t know much about? In addition to that, you’re sending the wrong message to the employer if you present yourself without doing your research. You should know a bit about the industry and the job because this information is readily available online. There is no reason you cannot go the extra mile.
Q: What else, other than research, are your key interview tips?
A: An interview isn’t like a trip to the dentist. The employer should not have to extract information from you, so present yourself with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. Speak with conviction and make eye contact with the employer as this shows confidence. If you interview with those factors in mind, you’re going to stand out. You want to make it hard for the employer not to hire you on the spot. Don’t be afraid to ask questions either. In many decades sitting on the interviewer’s chair, Colman has been most impressed by those who have done their research, displayed enthusiasm, energy, and confidence and made great presentations which are increasingly common in interviews for executive positions.
Q: What are the most important qualities to succeed, both in the workplace and with your colleagues?
A: I think honesty is an essential quality. If that’s missing then there is no basis for a relationship. Most people are honest but there can be sins of omission or grey areas where people can slip into half-truths. I would say, speak the truth even if you have to say you screwed up. You are better off to do that than try to squirm your way out of it. Interpersonal skills are an absolute necessity. Having the ability to deal successfully with people at all levels in the organisation. Being approachable, having a basic sense of humour, and don’t have a foreboding look about you.
Q: What is a good reason, and a not-so-good reason, for changing jobs?
A: A good reason to change jobs is if you feel like you have reached the limit of where you can go in that company. For example, if there are no suitable promotional opportunities there and you feel you are capable of operating at a more senior level. A small salary increase is not a good enough reason to move. You may get more money, but it might not be as good an employer to work for, and there may not be the potential to make progress. I also think change for the sake of change is a bad idea. One thing I always recommend is to investigate the potential for a lateral move with your existing employer before deciding to move to another employer.
Q: How does a job applicant best deal with rejection?
A: Be resilient and don’t take these things personally. You could have come up against some outstanding candidates who ticked all the boxes. You have got to recognise that you are going to be turned down a few times in your career. There is always going to be an initial disappointment, but you can’t let yourself wallow in that. You’ve got to bounce back. Look on a ‘No’ as a ‘Not Now’ rather than a ‘Never’.
Q: What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
A: “Get a haircut”, Colman jokes before adding “Become an expert communicator, not just in what you say and write, but in listening also. Become a first-class presenter because that’s the medium by which you communicate with decision-makers, especially in big multinational companies. Lastly, bring energy and commitment to your work because that’s going to differentiate you from the others.
Colman Collins is the author of 'How to Succeed in Your First Job', which is highly recommended, not just for those starting in the workplace, but also for those of us who need to be reminded about the principles which help us succeed in the workplace, and also in many other aspects of our lives.
For any parent, or grandparent, with a family member entering the workforce, this book would make a wonderful gift as it provides an invaluable insight into how to behave in many of the scenarios that every employee encounters. Colman is also regularly invited to speak to third-level students where he shares his insights of a lifetime spent in the recruitment and HR sectors. He remains a non-executive director of Collins Mc Nicholas and is delighted with the continuing success of the company and the team that led the management buyout nine years ago.
The book can be bought through www.buythebook.ie or it can be purchased in Charlie Byrne’s or Kenny’s bookshop.
