Came across a pretty good scheme run by Department of Social Welfare in conjunction your Area Partnership Company which provides supports to people who've been in receipt of social welfare. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance provides a cushion for those embarking on the road to self employment as it allows you to maintain 100% of your social welfare payments for year 1 and 75% for year 2. Of course there are strings attached and rules and regulations but it's certainly worth checking out.

Labels: contracting, Redundancy, self-employed

Got this really nice mail from one of our professionals tonight don't worry we asked her permission to republish.

I just wanted to say a big thank you! It's hard enough finding a non-full time, flexible position in IT in the best of times, let alone in a recession. So I was delighted that you sent me an opportunity which has now resulted in a job offer (from KRO IT in Galway). Perhaps the recession is encouraging people to think laterally, and get professional, experienced people, but not full time. Yours is a terrific resource and I will spread the word!

Well Caroline, we wish you the very best of luck and we're always happy to hear and publish Flexitimers success stories. Thanks and congratulations on the new job.

Labels: contracting, flexible work, Flexitimers, jobs, Recession

Flexitimers attended the Big Debate in City Hall last Wednesday and were fortunate to put a question to the panel. The panel, which was chaired by by respected broadcaster John Bowman, consisted of Jay Bourke (Cafe Bar Deli), Martin Murray (Interactive Return), Brian Carey (Sunday Times), Marc Coleman (Newstalk), Mark Fielding from ISME, Damian Young Head of Small Business, Bank of Ireland, Paula Fitzsimons, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor author and Pat Lynch, Chairperson of Dublin City Enterprise Board.

Q: Did the panel think that companies (under pressure to cut headcount) were more likely to outsource activities or use part-time, freelance and contract staff in order to remain competitive during these challenging times?

Summary: there was unanimous agreement that companies must outsource and use flexible staff to stay in business.

Quotes:
Marc Coleman - 'there is no doubt, no option that companies will have to outsource / use agency staff'

Pat Lynch 'your largest overheads walk in to your company on two feet....businesses must control these costs', 'It (outsourcing and using flexible staff) is a good business strategy'

Jay Bourke - If you're not letting people go, you'll go out of business, outsource right away'

Brian Carey 'It's a growing trend in Irish businesses'

This is good news for Flexitimers and particularly good news for freelancers, part timers and contractors out there who can now rest assured that more interesting projects and positions will be coming down the pipeline. Flexitimers offers part timers, freelancers and contractors access to skilled part time, contract and freelance positions and projects.

Labels: contracting, flexible work, Flexitimers, jobs, smart work, work

An article called 'Seeing the bigger picture' in the Independent made an interesting case for using career coaches to assist with dealing with change in the 21st century. We all know that the 'job for life' is largely a thing of the past and that's not just to do with the recession but it's more to do with our generation's career promiscuity. We prefer to shop around and indeed move around - upsizing our career prospects with strategic moves every couple of years. However, we're now seeing a very definite move towards outsourcing which will have a profound impact on the traditional employee. Maybe the next opportunity will be contract or freelance - something that exploits your skill set but to a very tight and specific brief. Anyway the article is about using a career coach to identify what you want, why you want it and how to manage your career - worth a read. Times are changing and chance favours the prepared.

Labels: contracting, flexible work, jobs, part-time work, smart work, work

An article caught my eye in Friday's Irish Times about the CEO Forum that takes place this week in Dublin. CEOs from some of Ireland's largest companies are meeting to discuss how to operate in challenging times ahead.

A comment by Brian Long, chief executive of venture capital firm Atlantic Bridge struck me as relevant to Flexitimers "during periods of recession, opportunities tend to open up in the outsourcing space as large corporations pare back, reduce their workforce and then realise that they don't have the "bandwidth" to carry out certain activities such as the development of non-core products. This creates opportunities for smaller players to step in and offer their services". This is also the case for freelancers, contractors and anyone offering themselves 'flexibly' to companies. Food for thought indeed.

Labels: contracting, flexible work, jobs, Recession, self-employed, small business, smart work, work

I read with interest about a new website that will promote working from home in the Sunday Business Post the other day. eWorkingIreland.com is the site and when I went into it on Sunday I met a static holding page without an email capture box, instead visitors were asked to email them to be notified of a live date. Well I went along a moment ago to see it is live (a redirect from Centrecom who are maintaining the site) and it's worth a visit. There are some basics like the benefits to eworkers and companies which most of us already know - no commute, less stress, more productivity and higher staff retention and so on. However, I did have a brief look at section on Studies, Report and White Papers and I have to say there's a lot of good content and case studies there. Definitely worth a look.

Labels: contracting, flexible work, part-time work, self-employed, smart work, work life balance

Taking the leap from permanent work to part time or contract work is not as hard as you might think. Put yourself in the shoes of any of your previous employers and assess the skills, strengths and experience you now have within your working life. Ask yourself what you brought to the companies you worked for? I bet you'll find you have a pretty long list of skills and experiences which are worth a lot. Once you see yourself as a "skill set" you will see how past employers have had the confidence in you.

Simply transfer that same confidence they have had in you and HAVE THAT SAME CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF. Prior to setting up Flexitimers, Dervla and I have both been employees and employers and at the end of the day it's really pretty much the same. There is a job to be done and you do it.

Once you have the confidence to stand up and pitch for business for somebody else, you can definitely pitch for yourself. Companies only hire people they think will add value and ultimately sales to their business. Assess yourself and realise your worth. Ask yourself how can my 'working life' work for me? If others have believed in you maybe it's time you believed in yourself.

So this sounds good but you have started thinking of some of the benefits you might lose? Think again.....

- I have a steady income coming in every month .....(You can have that too!)
- I have 6 weeks paid holidays every year..................(You can have that too!)
- I can take time off if something comes up...............(You can have that too!)
- I work in a team so share the responsibility ..........(You can have that too!)


How do I make the leap?

- Make a list of what you want i.e. the terms of your self employment e.g. salary, leave.
- Make a list of what you can offer (you've done this before for job interviews)
- Make a Plan of Action to include timelines, pipelines, contacts, budgeting with a definite start date.
- Use Flexitimers (and your other networks to access suitable work)


It is possible and it's easier than you think. Again, the point is to recognise and have the same confidence in yourself that employers have in you. One final point and I don't mean to sound flippant:
The money always comes in. I've been in full time, permanent, temporary, contract and freelance employment over the years and I've never missed a mortgage repayment; I've always been able to live (well) and take holidays. It's just a matter of confidence. YOU CAN HAVE THAT TOO!

Take the leap!
Lead the Life you want.
Best of luck!

Joy
Flexitimers

Labels: contracting, jobs, self-employed, work, work life balance