I need a Job!!!

eirebhoy · 06-10-2003 10:40am #1

I am looking for a job for the past 3 weeks and I can't seem to find one. I would do nearly any job available and I have applied for around 40-50 jobs on nixers, Fas and irishjobs.ie. The reason I feel I am not getting a job is because I have only ever worked with my father (last summer) and I am 17 years old so if there are two people applying for a job I would probably not have a hope in hell.

I have had two interviews so far, one in Jury's for a Kitchen Porter Job and one in Grafton Capital for a Hotel Porter job. I still haven't got a reply from Grafton Capital and she told me that I would get a reply between Thursday and Saturday last week and she went on holiday's yesterday so I think that job is gone.

Nearly all the jobs I applied by e-mail and I also dropped my CV into Game and the Sony Store and altogether I have received about 6 replies (good or bad). I have seen every job on the three sites mentioned above and I have to go on every day and apply for some jobs that were added on the day.

It could be the cover note which I attach to e-mail but I wouldn't say it is:

Dear
,

I saw on the FAS website that you have a
vacancy and am interested in the postition. Unfortunately I have just finished my leaving cert so I have no experience in a similar role but I would be willing to learn. I would be available to work at any time, I have attached my CV for your viewing and I hope to hear from you soon.

regards,

It is not my CV as I got that made in a jobs centre.

Any idea's where I could get a job and any tips on getting them?

Thanks.

The Brigadier · 06-10-2003 10:55am

You need to word your cover letter in a more positive light. Sell yourself, don't use word like unfortunatly.

At the end of the with no relevent experience it becomes a numbers game and a case of being in the right place at the right time. Don't be afraid to send your CV into the same companies again.... Not the next day but certainly after a couple of months...

antoinolachtnai · 08-10-2003 8:22am

how can you have no relevant experience? You've played computer games, haven't you? You've used a stereo?

I know this is all obvious, but you really have to give everything a positive spin. You worked with/for your father too, and that's good experience.

Same goes for interviews.

Be proud!

The Brigadier · 08-10-2003 8:28am

Employers will look at somebody with no work experience as having no relevent experience no matter how much spin you put on it...

You can sell your Life skills as much as possible though.

And if you are looking for any job at all... Try approaching bars around town, they allways have positions open, it may start off clearing glasses....But it is a start, a friend of mine started off in a lowly restaraunt job in a lowly restaraunt. He now manages one of the highest profile bars in Ireland and drives a BMW!!

And you will be looked on more favourably than a non-national who barely speaks english...

antoinolachtnai · 08-10-2003 8:32am

No doubt, being new to the market is being new the market, but i think employers like to see a bit of optimism coming though.

eirebhoy · 08-10-2003 8:46am

A bar would be the last place I would work because of the hours involved. I want a full time job, mon-fri and you will never get that as a lounge boy. Also, there is a new legislation coming out that you have to be 18 to be in a bar after 9pm so that would have to go for staff aswell.

jongore · 08-10-2003 8:52am

Originally posted by eireboy
A bar would be the last place I would work because of the hours involved. I want a full time job, mon-fri and you will never get that as a lounge boy. Also, there is a new legislation coming out that you have to be 18 to be in a bar after 9pm so that would have to go for staff aswell.

That legislation came in last week, all I can say is keep trying and you'll get one, if it seems your getting nowhere apply for a FAS course in something that interests you, many of these have placement services. (That's how I got my current job)

eirebhoy · 08-10-2003 9:29am

I have just been on www.nixers.com and there are over 400 job seekers online at the moment although it is usually about 700 people online when I go on. Also, every time I apply for a job by phone, or sometimes e-mail, they tell me to post my CV due to the volume of applications for the job. Is it really that bad in Ireland? I thought it was only the computer industry but I never knew how hard it was to find anything. If this is the case I don't think I will be getting a job for a long time and my mother is getting really frustated that I haven't got a job yet and I am trying my best. I would do nearly any job 9-5. Anywhere that you feel I have a good chance of getting a job? But if you are going to say apply in a shop could you give the name of a shop looking for staff.

Thanks in advance.

BTW I use FAS, Nixers and Irishjobs.ie to search for jobs. Any other good sites that you recommend but the sites in the sticky above are mostly for people coming out of college.

raphaelS · 08-10-2003 9:52am

I was in Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt 2 weeks ago on a saturday and I heard 2 annonces on speaker about jobs available in the store...!
And it seems to me that most of the lads, sitting on the floor, unpacking cans of bins with love are in your age group, though they might be over 18...

Have you try Dunnes, Tesco,....or your local news agent?

For little time (and little money) you can also try South or North side People, they are always looking for teens for the distribution...

Raphael

Yavvy · 08-10-2003 10:51am

It is not my CV as I got that made in a jobs centre.

any chance we could the CV anyway ? you never know there maybe somewhere we can help improve it.

I was in a similar position to yourself once...
When I was 16 I left school to become a caprenter. After 3 months my Boss went out of business, so there I was out of school with no trade. I put myself in the Buy and sell as a "hardworking young lad, Looking for a Trade in the construction industury". Two weeks later I got an apprentiship as a Maintenance fitter.

eirebhoy · 08-10-2003 11:34am

I am only looking for work for a year as I am going to college in September but I am not going to tell them that as it will probably decrease my chances of getting a job.

Anyway Alany, I have attached my CV. It is not very good as there is nothing else i can add but tell me what you think.

Yavvy · 08-10-2003 11:44am

cant view that attachment ..it comes up a garbled squares and circles, do you have it in Word or can you Paste it in a PM ?

The Brigadier · 08-10-2003 12:01pm

Save it as a word document and it will open up.

One suggestion I would make is to maybe add a skills section and list what you think your skills are....

Yavvy · 08-10-2003 12:12pm

eireboy. I find your CV a little anaemic, Do you mind if I revamp it a little ?

eirebhoy · 08-10-2003 12:14pm

Originally posted by Alany
eireboy. I find your CV a little anaemic, Do you mind if I revamp it a little ?

work away and Thanks very much.

Yavvy · 08-10-2003 12:52pm

I like this layout better - I think you can expalin more about yourself. You dont have much experiance so focus on what you know.

I think you can creat a better cover letter too.

Hope this is helpful.

Alan.

To save this right click and click " save target as"

Possible CV layout

eirebhoy · 08-10-2003 12:56pm

Thanks very much Alany, it looks great.

Yavvy · 08-10-2003 1:19pm

no probs

pebble · 09-10-2003 7:21am

Technically, that would be a resumé.

eirebhoy · 09-10-2003 9:58am

Originally posted by pebble
Technically, that would be a resumé.

Hi Pebble. Would that make a difference? Is it at least better than my last CV?

Cheers.

Yavvy · 09-10-2003 2:00pm

I dont really know the differance between a CV and resumé but its still only 1 page and I think it will help you applying for jobs.

My girlfriend was looking for a job for 5 weeks before I changed her CV to a similar style. 4 days later she had a job. Im not saying that my revamp did it for her, but i think it helped her get a foot in the door.

eirebhoy · 09-10-2003 5:47pm

Alany. Great news. I applied for about 5 jobs today eith the CV you made for me and I have already got an interview with Snickers. I am not sure whether I have got the job but the CV damn sure helped. Thatnks very much for the help. i owe you one.

p.pete · 09-10-2003 9:15pm

Good look with the interview eireboy, I presume you have some level of computer skills so maybe emphasise that at the interview. They're not expecting qualifications just that you know your way around one.

Also get across the use of comunications skills developed while working with your da (although you don't have to keep reminding that you were working with family, it's still a job in it's own right). If there was any interaction with money also make sure that you get that point across - should be relevant.

Try to pick out a few positive points that you have to offer and then try 2 r 3 times during the interview to get each across, just repeating silly phrases like "I've had plenty of experience dealing with..."

Nice layout Alany - will hold onto it for the next time I'm looking:)

pebble · 09-10-2003 10:57pm

A resumé is a short one page document that is usually written in the third person, includes a mission statement of some kind and brief outline of career history.
It's an American thing.

A CV is usually a longer more 'formal' presentation that gives more details and averages 2-3 pages in length, and gives more than just work history. ie. qualifications, personal details, training details etc.

good luck with the interview.
check out some of the links that WhiteWashMan has stickied on the main forum page, they are quite useful. Also, i think he has a good CV template up there as well, which is nice and neat.

Yavvy · 10-10-2003 10:05am

Alany. Great news. I applied for about 5 jobs today eith the CV you made for me and I have already got an interview with Snickers. I am not sure whether I have got the job but the CV damn sure helped. Thatnks very much for the help. i owe you one.

Eireboy, thats great news. Best of luck. As I said I think my layout helps you get a foot in the door. The rest is up to you.

My advice for interviews is be totally ( brutally) honest. Tell them why you really want the job. Do avoid negatives. in my experiance when asked why you want the job ( often considered a difficult question) my best reply has been " cause I want to earn money,....... cause I want to gain experiance and I like your company"

Yavvy · 10-10-2003 10:21am

Eire boy I just looked at the Job...its sales. I am also in sales and
I have been to many sales interviews, I would say my interview style is pretty good. I have never been out of work since I was 16 (im 24 now) and I have always gotten the job I wanted.

If there is any advice I can give you please let me know

Alan

I need a Job!!!

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