Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national qualifications authority responsible
for the 10-level National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). We are the designatedNational Contact Point for the European Qualifications Framework (EQF-NCP) and host
NARIC Ireland offering free advice on recognition of foreign qualifications. QQI is also anawarding body for post school education and training in Ireland.
The effective recruitment and selection

QQI together with almost 100 recruitmentof human resources is essential to highbodies, and professionals in the public

performing workplaces. The role ofand private sector, have collaborated

qualifications in this process may be taken

in gathering and reporting these timely

for granted or may be misunderstood.

findings on the role of qualifications inWe thought it would be useful to findrecruitment.

out more about the nature and extent ofqualifications use in recruitment practice.

We look forward to building on thisengagement with the recruitment sector

Making sense of academic, vocational,

to promote better understanding and use

sectoral, professional or internationalof qualifications.

qualifications can be challenging.

Get in Touchwww.qqi.ie
www.naric.ie
www.nfq.ie

Making Senseof Qualifications
VIEWS OF RECRUITMENT
PROFESSIONALS IN IRELAND

2019
KEY FINDINGSQualifications Frameworks
in Recruitment

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

in terms of importance, what matters whenrecruiting across different occupational roles?

about the most challenging aspects of sourcing
qualified staff and evaluating qualifications.

are you aware ofthe NFQ.

OPERATIONAL ROLES

Sometimes it is difficult
to find people with theright qualifications.

96%

RELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCE

71%

43

MEDIUM

25 29
LOW

MEDIUM

36 25
HIGH

LOW

LOW

WE ASKED...

IRELAND

65RELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCE

61%

AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES55%

MEDIUM

BUSINESS ACUMEN

HIGH%27%

5MEDIUM

32%%%

LOW

LOWLOW

WE ASKED...

about non-formal qualifications.

PROFESSIONAL/MANAGERIAL ROLESRELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCEAND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES%

HIGH%

HIGH

HIGH

3213%

MEDIUM

3%LOW

WE ASKED...

%MEDIUM0%

LOW

how can QQI improve
collaboration with recruiters?

BUSINESS ACUMEN

87%

73%

17%

what you would liketo know more about?

8765

if you refer to EQF
during recruitment.

WE ASKED...

HOW DO YOU RATE...

QUALIFICATIONSWE ASKED...

Strengthening
Engagement

41%%

MEDIUM

HIGH

34%

GLOBAL%

HIGH

372971%EU

Academic qualifications Professional qualifications
equivalent to level 8 (orat level 8 on the NFQabove)69%

where do you typically recruit from?
SUPERVISORY ROLESHOW DO YOU RATE...

YOU SAID...

are you aware ofthe EQF.

%

5%

QUALIFICATIONS

NFQ

NFQ

WE ASKED...

%

HIGH

54%

%%%

339%

MEDIUM74%

if you refer to NFQ
during recruitment.

10

YOU SAID...

%

MEDIUM

3%

LOW

63%

Qualifications achieved outside the formal
education and training system are important.

710%

HIGH%

WE ASKED...

695146

BUSINESS ACUMENAND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES58

QUALIFICATIONS41

HOW DO YOU RATE...

Evaluating foreign
qualifications is themost challenging.

about the qualifications levels
most sought in recruitment.

2

Role of Qualifications
in Recruitment

72%

WE ASKED...

how can QQI better
disseminate information
about qualifications
and qualifications
frameworks effectively?

59%

QQI
Website55%

DigitalBadges

53%

Email

53%

European
Qualifications
Framework

32%

Video

50%

Foreign
Qualifications
Recognition

26%

Print
PamphletEngage and organise
meetings, briefings
and seminars

Qualifications Frameworks
in Recruitment

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

WE ASKED...

in terms of importance, what matters whenrecruiting across different occupational roles?

about the most challenging aspects of sourcing
qualified staff and evaluating qualifications.

are you aware of
the NFQ.

OPERATIONAL ROLES

Sometimes it is difficult
to find people with theright qualifications.

96%

RELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCE

71%

43

MEDIUM

25 29
LOW

MEDIUM

36 25
HIGH

LOW

LOW

WE ASKED...

IRELAND

65

RELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCE

61%AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES55%

MEDIUM

BUSINESS ACUMEN

HIGH%27%

5MEDIUM

32%%%

LOW

LOW

LOW

WE ASKED...

about non-formal qualifications.

PROFESSIONAL/MANAGERIAL ROLESRELEVANT WORKEXPERIENCEAND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES%

HIGH%

HIGH

HIGH

3213%

MEDIUM

3%LOW

WE ASKED...

%MEDIUM0%

LOW

how can QQI improve
collaboration with recruiters?

BUSINESS ACUMEN

87%

73%

17%

what you would liketo know more about?

8765

if you refer to EQF
during recruitment.

WE ASKED...

HOW DO YOU RATE...

QUALIFICATIONSWE ASKED...

Strengthening
Engagement

41%%

MEDIUM

HIGH

34%

GLOBAL%

HIGH

372971%EU

Academic qualifications Professional qualifications
equivalent to level 8 (orat level 8 on the NFQabove)69%

where do you typically recruit from?
SUPERVISORY ROLESHOW DO YOU RATE...

YOU SAID...

are you aware ofthe EQF.

%

5%

QUALIFICATIONS

NFQ

NFQ

WE ASKED...

%

HIGH

54%

%%%

339%

MEDIUM74%

if you refer to NFQ
during recruitment.

10

YOU SAID...

%

MEDIUM

3%

LOW

63%

Qualifications achieved outside the formal
education and training system are important.

710%HIGH%

WE ASKED...

695146

BUSINESS ACUMENAND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES58

QUALIFICATIONS41

HOW DO YOU RATE...

Evaluating foreign
qualifications is themost challenging.

about the qualifications levels
most sought in recruitment.

2

Role of Qualifications
in Recruitment

72%

WE ASKED...

how can QQI better
disseminate information
about qualifications
and qualifications
frameworks effectively?

59%

QQI
Website55%

DigitalBadges

53%

Email

53%

European
Qualifications
Framework

32%

Video

50%

Foreign
Qualifications
Recognition

26%

Print
PamphletEngage and organise
meetings, briefings
and seminars

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national qualifications authority responsible
for the 10-level National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). We are the designatedNational Contact Point for the European Qualifications Framework (EQF-NCP) and host
NARIC Ireland offering free advice on recognition of foreign qualifications. QQI is also anawarding body for post school education and training in Ireland.
The effective recruitment and selection

QQI together with almost 100 recruitmentof human resources is essential to highbodies, and professionals in the public

performing workplaces. The role ofand private sector, have collaboratedqualifications in this process may be taken

in gathering and reporting these timely

for granted or may be misunderstood.

findings on the role of qualifications in

We thought it would be useful to findrecruitment.

out more about the nature and extent ofqualifications use in recruitment practice.

We look forward to building on thisengagement with the recruitment sector

Making sense of academic, vocational,

to promote better understanding and use

sectoral, professional or internationalof qualifications.

qualifications can be challenging.

Get in Touch
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Making Senseof Qualifications
VIEWS OF RECRUITMENT
PROFESSIONALS IN IRELAND

2019
KEY FINDINGS