The old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” has taken on a whole new meaning online
with the huge popularity of online social media site like Facebook, MySpace and so on.

Now it would seem everyone including employers, potential employers, friends and partners
Do “judge a Facebook/MySpace page on it’s content”.

Over half of employers in a recent survey did online background checks on potential recruits
and sites such as Facebook and MySpace are on the list.

With more than half of employers researching job candidates online,UK website CareerBuilder.co.uk
found that 43pc are using search engines to see what they can find outside of the CV,
12pc said they go to Facebook and a further 12pc head to professional networking site LinkedIn.

The most revealing part of the survey was the fact that 40pc of those employers admitted
that online information they had unearthed about potential employees had discouraged them from hiring.

Source: Manager Owner (Business Magazine) March 2010

 it also includes subjects related to fitness and rehabilitative therapies, presenting many career opportunities

While the main focus of the course  is on advanced massage techniques, the programme also equips you with the  skills and knowledge to assist those who are physically active or recovering from injury. This can be achieved through exercise and rehabilitative techniques you will learn on the course, and will enable you to prescribe programmes that will

-contribute to fitness levels

-increase range of motion and flexibility

-enhance balance and co-ordination

-avoid repetitive injuries

-enhance muscular endurance

You will also be trained how  to monitor your clients  progress and adapt their programmes were needed.

This, on top of the advanced hands on techniques, which include neuro-muscular techniques, soft tissue release and connective tissue  massage  makes for a truly dynamic programme that can catapult you into the world of sports injuries, fitness and rehabilitation techniques. 

The next sports massage programmes at the Irish Academy, (for under-graduates and post-graduates) commence in March and April 2010.

The undergraduate programme is designed for those with no prior knowledge of massage and incorporates two international diplomas. It is ideal for those looking to start a career, or for those already practicing in Beauty, Complimentary or Fitness therapies.

The post-graduate programme is designed for those with a recognised body massage qualification. For more information on dates and incredible prices visit www.massagecourses.ie

Talk soon

D O K

 Another interesting comment in the article was made by Moira Leydon of the ASTI, she stated that

“Most teachers did not opt for teaching for the money but for the satisfaction of teaching. Teaching is a highly rewarding career and most research would show that teachers are happy in their jobs and highly motivated, as they feel they are helping and making a difference” 

So it would seem that the outlook is very positive for those considering a career in teaching, and with an increased awareness in the economy of the need to continually upskill, or retrain, the future looks bright for those considering a career in teaching or training.

For more information on teaching and training courses at the Irish Academy please visit www.teachertraining.ie

Talk Soon

D O K

We have had lots of calls to the Academy office over the last few months  from persons wondering if they could access funding to do any of our courses. So I decided to do some research and contact the various state agencies to get some information. I thought it would be a reasonably simple peace of research, but there doesn’t seem to be a cohesive policy on the issuing of training/education funds, although I do hope the following information will be of some help.

Good news

The good news is that there is funding available, but it very much depends on individual circumstances. If you are unemployed you should sign on at your local dole office and register with fas at your local FAS office in order to try and access funding. It would seem that two categories giving preference for funding are persons unemployed, or in receipt of some form of social welfare benefit.  So if you are looking to retrain, up skill or return to education, two of the main offices that you can contact are

Local employment services, known as LES offices ( also distinguished by the “Obair” logo). Theses offices offer a wide range of services from career planning to job searching and also have a role in accessing funding. It would also seem that they can advise you if you are entitled to funding and  how and where to get it. I would think this would be a very good starting point and a quick phone call or visit might save you a lot of work. (contact details at bottom of article)

Local social welfare offices , which have a ‘jobs facilitator’. Social welfare also have a role to play in issuing funding for training/education which is mainly via the local welfare offices and the jobs facilitator. You can be referred by social welfare or FAS to the jobs facilitator or you can contact them directly and make an appointment. (contact details at the end of this article)

The role of FAS

FAS is the national training authority and thus has a role in providing training for its clients. They also play a  role in assisting with career planning via their guidance officers in local offices. The main priority of FAS at local level would be to help you identify a course or career which they can provide through their own training programmes. However in some cases, they may provide you with funding or help you access funding, for courses which they do not provide, or if there is a long waiting list for a course which they provide. (see bottom of article for contact details)

Important

Irrespective of which agency you choose to contact, it is important that you have some sort of a ‘career plan’ that incorporates the course which you are looking  for funding for. The person who is issuing, or making recommendations for the funds to be issued, will need to know that the course will  enhance your career or employment prospects, or lead to self employment, and may also form part of a  progressive education pathway.

Contacts

www.localemploymentservices.ie

When you enter the home page look to the left hand menu on click on ‘les offices’ for list of contacts.

www.welfare.ie

When you enter the home page look at the menu at the top of the page and click on ‘contact us’, this brings you to a list of services , the first one is ’social welfare local and branch offices’, click on this for list of contacts

www.fas.ie

When you enter the FAS home page click on ‘job seeker’ , when you enter job seeker section read down through the text and click on ‘fas office’ for list of local offices.

I do hope this information will be of help to you  and good luck with your efforts.

Talk soon

D O K