can't find a summer job!!

emeraldstar

I've handed out CVs in Waterford and Kilkenny and rang up a couple of places after that had looked promising..but nothing!! Nobody wants me!!! I have experience in retail, food, computers. I'm not looking for anything in particular and I'm not expecting anything more than minimum wage, so it's not that any high expectations are holding me back. What am I doing wrong? I just can't seem to find a job and I'm going out of my mind with boredom. I'm thinking I should have stayed in Dublin for the summer and got work there but I didn't want to do that and now I'm freaking out that I won't find any work and then what a waste of a summer.

Can anyone help me? Advice, anything?!

Stark

I feel sorry for everyone who has to look for a summer job this year. I tried myself 2 years ago to get a summer job and failed miserably. I couldn't even get to the point where someone would accept a CV, the jobs just weren't there

What are the broad areas that you're applying to? Some posters might have suggestions for another area that you hadn't thought of.

Look out for walk-in interviews in the paper. If you see one, make sure to be there very early. All the ones that I tried, they had to turn away about 100 or so people before they could even start interviewing.

Thank christ I have a permanent job these days, that's all I can say.

Lump

Are you willing to do anything? If you are, and I mean legal stuff, then there's plenty of jobs out there. The majority of time people can't get jobs is because they don't want to do particular jobs.

John

emeraldstar

Well yeah, it's kind of at the stage now where I'm desperate so of course I would do anything and take any offer that came to me!! It's not as if I was being picky before either...I don't know, I found a job pretty easily in Dublin in October during college, maybe I should have stayed there over the summer and not come home at all!!

base2

200,000+ eastern european immigrants are the cause. I feel for anybody still doing the summer job thing. Thank God I've passed those days as there is nothing worse than not being able to work for the summer.

DOLEMAN

base2 wrote:

200,000+ eastern european immigrants are the cause.

It's true. At the moment all the non-skilled jobs are being taken by immigrants. What will happen when the skilled immigrants arrive and take everything else?

Seriously, this is something I'm beginning to worry about. I'd hate to be in the OP's shoes and be trying to get a shop/cafe/hotel job.

This is going to become a problem in a few years. Anti-immigrant politics etc. will start...

Iofur

I had the same trouble. I gave out at least 15-20 CV's, by hand not including ones I applied for online through websites. eventually I had to give up and I moved home. I lucklily managed to get my old job back so at least am working a few hours a week otherwise I know I would crack up!

Hope something comes ya way!



Oh and yeah it is Eastern Europeans and such taking unskilled labour - I am not saying that out of spite but the vast majority of unskilled/low-skill jobs are now being filled by a majority of immigrants in the words of South Park 'They tOOOk OOur jobbbs'

lost_for_words

Figured I'd reply to your post here rather than PI seein as ya moved it

The banks used to take on students for the summer, they must have stopped it in the last two years. I know a few people just finished college/off for summer looking for jobs too and it's tough going out there.

Tried any of the hotels or cafes in Waterford?
Aldi advertised there last week.
Ardkeen Stores were looking for staff recently too I think.
Have you tried in the munster express www.munster-express.ie or the news & star?

Sorry if you have tried these things already, it's probably useless information really.

lost_for_words

Figured I'd reply to your post here rather than PI seein as ya moved it

The banks used to take on students for the summer, they must have stopped it in the last two years.

Tried any of the hotels or cafes in Waterford?
Aldi advertised there last week.
Ardkeen Stores were looking for staff recently too I think.
Have you tried in the munster express www.munster-express.ie or the news & star?

Sorry if you have tried these things already, it's probably useless information really.

Maddzy

I'm in the same boat myself man

Moved to Dundalk last year while in college at DIT. Now summers here and I've handed out a bunch of CVs and applied online but nada. I got one call back, from Digiweb, said they'd get back to me after my CV was handed to the guy in charge, but they never got back to me again after that.

I hate moaning about immigrants cause it makes me feel in some small way racist. But it really is part of the cause.

klong

And the same here too, finding it difficult to get anything. Have handed out around a dozen CVs so far, applied online, went to a recruitment agancy today. Nothing at all, not even rejection letters Have tried the banks, supermarkets...gahh!

TempestSabre

If I was you guys I would try other routes than just CV's etc. Ask your friends and relations aswell. Tends to be more successful than simply creating CV storms. If something isn't working try something else.

Keedowah

Have you tried the supermarkets? They are always looking for people to pack shelves etc. Night pack might pay more then minimum wage.

I'd hate to be in the same situation as you - but i dont think its all down to the immigrants - i always found it very hard to get summer work paying anything more then minimum wage.

emeraldstar

Keedowah wrote:

Have you tried the supermarkets? They are always looking for people to pack shelves etc. Night pack might pay more then minimum wage.

I'd hate to be in the same situation as you - but i dont think its all down to the immigrants - i always found it very hard to get summer work paying anything more then minimum wage.

well, got into the car with my mom today (she sees how desperate it's getting lol) and drove around to Lidls, Aldis and Dunnes. Handed out cvs and got application forms....here's hoping....

p~b

i'm like yourself, i could'nt get a job when i finished for the summer so i went and enrolled in a course for the summer instead. the pay is'nt great (175 a week) but it was better than sitting round all summer.

you should go down to fas and see if they have any courses starting soon with spaces that your interested in, even pm me and i'll give u the number for my course, its the ecdl

Lump

klong wrote:

And the same here too, finding it difficult to get anything. Have handed out around a dozen CVs so far, applied online, went to a recruitment agancy today. Nothing at all, not even rejection letters Have tried the banks, supermarkets...gahh!

Have you tried street cleaning, bin collecting, house cleaning, working in a butchers/slaughter house, unblocking drains, unblocking sewers?

John

Tha Gopher

Lump wrote:

Have you tried street cleaning, bin collecting, house cleaning, working in a butchers/slaughter house, unblocking drains, unblocking sewers?

Have you?



Most of those jobs are done by older unemployed lads who FAS forces into it afaik. Im afraid that the fact young Irish people cant get themselves menial work is the fault of Bertie and the boys, who bafflingly let us be one of only three EU states who didnt bother restricting immigration from the new member states, even though they were given the chance to do so. I was talking to a Polish bird in town Sunday night (well, by talking I mean drunkenly waffling trying to pull) and she herself said there were too many Poles in Ireland to the point that it was unfair job competition with the Irish.

If I said that Hobbes would demand I be banned from boards for my far right views:D


Try your local McDonalds etc. Its not as bad as you think*



*well, alright, it is. Sh1t wages, hard, rushed work, wanker customers and no respect from management, you get treated like sh1t and you arent even allowed more than a medium meal on your hour break (when I worked there, if I had my way every break it wouldve been a large Big Mac meal, fillet fish, double cheeseburger and a bit of the absoloutely heavenly grilled chicken. And Im only 10 stone ) . But craic wise and having a laugh you will never work in a better place

Stark

Well the influx of foreign labour was necessary for Ireland's economy I believe. The whole summer working model does work against students unfortunately as most employers need employees all year round, not just for 3 months during the summer. That's why menial foreign labour is preferable for them.

I guess what could be done is to restrict the visas of students who come to Ireland from non-EU countries to study. You see a lot of Chinese students working in Dublin over the summer for example. By restricting their visas, you could have more vacancies for Irish students. It's not something I'd like to do as it would restrict the Irish student experience to those who could afford it. But Irish students need to eat too.

chump

Lump wrote:

Have you tried street cleaning, bin collecting, house cleaning, working in a butchers/slaughter house, unblocking drains, unblocking sewers?

John

In all fairness John, a lot of those jobs are now career jobs. Who do you think will hire a student for the summer months to clean streets, when all those jobs are full to begin with, and when they can hire/train up people who'll do the job for years? Same for bin collecting.
House cleaning is a possibility, it would involve handing around flyers etc., but who do you think irish households would prefer to hire, Jimmy-20yrold-college or the people recommended by friends and neighbours who've been cleaning houses for years?
Also who do you think would hire a student for a few months to work in a slaughter house or butchers. The training needed for those jobs is great, sure it takes years to become a butcher "Having secured an apprenticeship with a company the apprentice will spend three/four years in training with his/her employer during which time instruction in all the skills required to become a qualified butcher will be given." References will be provided on request.
Also a slaughter house, the health and safety training would probably last at least 1 month.
The equipment and training needed for unblocking drains and sewers I'd imagine is quite a deterrent to a student with little means and perhaps no private transport.

You're trying to make a point that students think they're too good for a certain type of job, which may be the case, but the examples you've given are ridiculous and don't stand up to the briefest of scrutiny.

DOLEMAN

Lump wrote:

Have you tried street cleaning, bin collecting, house cleaning, working in a butchers/slaughter house, unblocking drains, unblocking sewers?

John

I get your point, but there's defo something wrong when the only jobs left for Irish students are the completely **** jobs which you mention... I mean, who in their right mind would want to work in a slaughter house or sewer...

Stark

Plenty of students are willingly working in mind-numbing assembly line jobs or cleaning toilets in pubs. Even those jobs are in limited supply though. For the pubs, you often have to be working part-time throughout the year. And the assembly lines jobs are snapped up very quickly.

I've spent 2 summers without a job and it wasn't for lack of trying or being too uptight. When you spend your days sitting at home penniless, you'll do anything.

chump

Stark wrote:

Plenty of students are willingly working in mind-numbing assembly line jobs or cleaning toilets in pubs. Even those jobs are in limited supply though. For the pubs, you often have to be working part-time throughout the year. And the assembly lines jobs are snapped up very quickly.

I've spent 2 summers without a job and it wasn't for lack of trying or being too uptight. When you spend your days sitting at home penniless, you'll do anything.

very true... I don't think people know exactly what it is like getting a job for just a few months.

TempestSabre

Its always been hard to find your first job, and summer jobs etc. Which is why students have been going abroad for decades to london, europe, usa, australia etc. Especially to places that have a lot of seasonal jobs in resorts etc.

Raskolnikov

The younger brother was in the same boat. It took 60 applications before he finally got a job, gutting and cleaning fish at a processing plant. He's on €290 for a 40 hour week, since he can't afford a car, he has to cycle into work, an hour each way. At the interview, when he suggested the wages were quite low, he was told to take it or leave it, there were plenty of foreigners to take the job.

It's insane, I don't see how anyone could live on that wage.

TempestSabre

Yet people will tell you its never been easier and jobs are everywhere.

The pole are actually very educated, hard to get a job there but real ease to get a good education.
The thing is these lads education isn't recognised by most Irish bodies.
I left my last job because the influx of polish employes made it obvious that I was going nowhere, why pay me 20k a year more for having an irish degree than a pole with more qualifications who will probably do the job better because he is keen.

TempestSabre

In fairness if someone does the job better, its because they are better. That said I don't agree with people who are so keen they work for free or as good as free. Or people who are complete doormats.

chump

TempestSabre wrote:

Yet people will tell you its never been easier and jobs are everywhere.

If I wanted a permanent, or long term job, I could get one tomorrow. It's seasonal low-skilled jobs that are hard to get now. I have a permanent career job starting in September, and can't get anything in between, just like a lot of students who go back to college around then too. The time is the thing

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Sam Vimes

i worked in the leisure plex for four fun filled hours before another place i'd interviewed in called me saying i got the job. i apologised to the manager and walked out. there are always jobs if you forget about your pride

emeraldstar

Commander Vimes wrote:

there are always jobs if you forget about your pride

The reason I havent found a job is not because I am too proud, and neither is it from lack of trying. It's simply due to lack of vacancies. God, im looking for summer work and by now it's the middle of June, I would take anything if I was offered it. I certainly would not look down my nose at a job in a leisure plex, or anywhere else for that matter. I didn't set out with the intention of only applying to 'better' places or less menial jobs with the idea that certain jobs weren't good enough for me. I hope that's not what you're insinuating.

Closing Doors

Well I only actually finished my exams last week, and was away at the weekend so I thought I'd be damn lucky to get anything when I started looking earlier this week. 30+ CVs gone already, many a phone call/email made but nothing yet.

Stephen

When I was a student I would apply well in advance of the summer, always had success. Just finished college last year.

leeroybrown

Between increased numbers of foriegn works (both seasonal and year round), larger numbers doing college courses, changes in the tourism market and the continued move to large retail multiples it's not that surprising that it is more difficult to get a summer job.

Also, some employers now find that they can fill quite a few positions which were formerly summer jobs with a smaller number of year round workers - a model that suits many better. I worked for a manufacturing company who used to use large numbers of summer workers to boost productivity but even at these low pay rates the training/management costs associated with them meant that paying slightly more for year round migrant workers was eventually going to be more cost effective. I remember getting contacted in the HR office by a couple of agencies when this was just starting to happen on a large scale.

Like Stephen when I was in college I always sorted out my Summer jobs early to make sure I had one.

exiztone

Also looking for a summer job. ;_;

stepbar

Like the pair of lads I always had a job sorted before I left college for the summer, the one year I didnt get a summer job (2002) I didnt leave enough time to sort out a job and had to stay home for the summer. Enjoyed it thought, great craic had lots of work to do (not paid ) Mind you since then Ive had some savage summer jobs. Worked in the Dept of Social Welfare last yr, was on work experience the yr before that, worked 2 jobs and 12 hour days in 2003 in Bank of Ireland and the college I was going to at the time!!!! Made a hat of money and spent a hat too ....

I think the lesson to be learned for all is to start looking early and hold on to the part time job that you have during the year, dont give it up. Ive been working part time for the last 7 months doin a ****ty market research job and im goin to keep it on until my masters is completed. Even during my degree Ive always had a part time job, granted I was lucky but I worked damm hard for it. Ive had more jobs than most people have in a lifetime which I consider quite good and im only 23! If ur stuck for a few quid there's always the mystery shopping, its come in handy for me in the past few months and always handy if u fancy a McDonalds or a Subway sumtime

Q_Ball

chump wrote:

I have a permanent career job starting in September, and can't get anything in between, just like a lot of students who go back to college around then too,

I'm in the same boat. Starting late July and need a job to try survive between now and then I've resorted to asking friends and family for anything at all adn still no luck

klong

I started looking for summer work in January/ February, was told by quite a few places they wouldn't be taking on summer staff...

Stark

Timing can be finnecky. It's always a good idea to try back later in the year as they say that when they're flush with staff but often have staff quit between then and the summer.

I got the "pfo" shít lots of times when looking for a summer job back when times were "good" and I usually found that the same company would actually hire people at a later stage. Try early, try late, try often.

cinnamon

What happens when you are a mature student and looking for a summer job? I've done all the crap jobs before - fast food, waitressing, B&B's, retail, toilet cleaning, factory work etc. And I refuse to do this type of work again. Now I want my weekends and evenings free.
I am looking for admin work (am well qualified) and am finding it very difficult - applying for everything, but most employers advertise permanent jobs not temp.
I was in the UK last summer and temp work was plentiful. May have to go back if I can't get a job here......

Stark

cinnamon wrote:

What happens when you are a mature student and looking for a summer job?

You take a crappy job if you can get it. Beggars can't be choosers.

cinnamon

Stark wrote:

Beggars can't be choosers.

I am a well-qualified admin assistant, not to mention science grad. (change of career has me back at college!). I'm hardly a beggar!
I've done crap jobs all my life and am sick of the wages, conditions etc.
It's not like I'm 18/19 with no qualifications and will do ANYthing. I've done it ALL before - I think I'm too old to be on rubbish pay and have some spotty manager breathing down my neck

Stark

Welcome to being a student again.

dudara

cinnamon, where are you located?

If you are in one of the cities, get in touch with an agency like La Creme recruitment, who place lots of temporary staff.

shoegirl

It was always extremely difficult to get summer work. Most employers want people with a) experience and b) flexibility. They prefer to take people who aren't going to vanish come October. Having said that, not having contacts made it extraordinarily difficult to find work. I generally noticed that my pals often got jobs through parents friends and my brother and sisters all got their summer work through friends, with just one exception.

cinnamon

dudara wrote:

cinnamon, where are you located?

If you are in one of the cities, get in touch with an agency like La Creme recruitment, who place lots of temporary staff.

thanks for the link. I'm in Sligo and cant leave due to financial circumstances. I'm with all the agencies here but something will turn up hopefully

Sleepy

I never had much difficulty getting summer work when I was in college because I held whatever crap job I had down year-round. Print up the CV's, dress nice, head into town and walk into every shop/bar/hotel you can find whether they've a notice up regarding vacancies or not.I'd say three quarters of all the jobs I've had in my life came from on-spec applications.

cinnamon - you'll really have to lower your expectations I'm afraid. Why would anyone take you on for 2/3 months when they can get someone with lower expectations cheaper (e.g. secondary school student on work experience). Admin isn't exactly that difficult so summer positions in it tend to go to the owner's kids/nieces/nephews etc. You'll be incredibly lucky if you can find a 9-5 summer job, I only ever had that once and tbh it was through nepotism.