Skills for the Recession

marge2007

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right place for posting this, I apologise if it isn't.

I am unemployed for the last 5 months and actively seeking employment. I recently graduated from college but unfortunately my degree course doesn't seem to equal any employment opportunities. I am honestly very depressed and emotional at the moment. My question is- what skills could I acquire that would make me attractive to future/ prospective employers?
I have registered with FAS and am down for a course with them. I have applied for many different types of jobs with no success and realise now that I need something sought after. I am aware that there are few job opportunities available in general. I guess I'm wondering if there are any skills obtainable that are in constant demand.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would be grateful for people's advice.

Marge

jimmyc123

Your type of degree course means nothing really, a degree just means that you can apply yourself to a committed task complete and see it through, Education will teach you nothing of the real world but will give you perspective and diligence, When employers are looking for work the most important thing is experience and proof you have worked and succeeded in any commercial activity. This coupled with education is key to hiring any individual. What you need to do is drop your standards work at anything that comes available and build experience from that. No job is too low that you do not learn something you never knew before. Life throws its curve balls and god knows as a nation were all in for a hard time for at least five years, but remember whats important, I assume you have your health ? Friends ? Family ?. Being unemployed in two years time will be the norm so don't be feeling any pressure as your just one of the first to suffer whats coming for us all. All you can do is plug away and hope for the best and remember there is always someone far off worse than you are.

Shiny

I'm in the same boat, I was looking for a job this summer and couldn't
find any that didn't want 5 years + experience.

I'm back now doing a Masters and I'm pretty sure that things are
going to be even worse when I finish.

I think you are doing the right thing by doing a FAS course, you are
learning new skills and it is relatively short term.
When the economy recovers it will have to be a skills based economy
so the more skills you learn between now and then, the better.

As Jimmy said, Experience trumps this but when you have a combination
of a Degree + experience (which you eventually will have) then you will
be plain sailing.

applicant

Try not to get too depressed over it. You are being very proactive doing the FAS course. I think if you stay positive, focused and motivated you are sure to find something. There are jobs out there, it just takes time. I know rejection can be tough but I think you have the right attitude. Keep searching and something will turn up!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

jimmyc123 wrote: »

Your type of degree course means nothing really, a degree just means that you can apply yourself to a committed task complete and see it through, Education will teach you nothing of the real world but will give you perspective and diligence, When employers are looking for work the most important thing is experience and proof you have worked and succeeded in any commercial activity. This coupled with education is key to hiring any individual. What you need to do is drop your standards work at anything that comes available and build experience from that. No job is too low that you do not learn something you never knew before. Life throws its curve balls and god knows as a nation were all in for a hard time for at least five years, but remember whats important, I assume you have your health ? Friends ? Family ?. Being unemployed in two years time will be the norm so don't be feeling any pressure as your just one of the first to suffer whats coming for us all. All you can do is plug away and hope for the best and remember there is always someone far off worse than you are.

Completely disagree with you there. Not sure what degree you done but I can certainly apply my degree to the business world.

OP, have you another language? Are you good at learning languages? You could try that.

Just make sure your not sitting around every day doing nothing... That will not be good for you

marge2007

Hi,

thank you for the replies. It does help to know others are in a similar situation. I've decided to pick up some skills for office and admin work. I guess I have five years to build on my employment skills. Lowering my standards when seeking employment has not helped, I've applied for all sorts of work with no success. I am grateful for the language idea, I've never been good at foreign languages but have decided to give it another go.

Thanks again,

Marge

TelePaul

Same boat. Half-way through a masters, have my undergrad (hons) and have three internships in financial services sector under my belt. Still nothing. But ya have to just keep hustling, put the word out amongst friends/family, you never know who might be looking to take someone on. Everyone in my masters class is in the same boat, bar one guy who's already a qualified accountant.

marge2007

Yeah, all my friends are unemployed or in college. There really is nothing available. I have an arts degree in archaeology and am beginning to wish I was qualified in something else. Maybe I should be lucky to be experiencing unemployment when I have no real responsibilities. Have to keep on going!

nyarlothothep

Archaeology is a fine intellectual pursuit, be proud of your degree!

Kid Nothing

In the same boat as the OP, just wondering what's the best way to go about doing language courses? do FAS do any?

road_2_damascus

marge2007 wrote: »

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right place for posting this, I apologise if it isn't.

I am unemployed for the last 5 months and actively seeking employment. I recently graduated from college but unfortunately my degree course doesn't seem to equal any employment opportunities. I am honestly very depressed and emotional at the moment. My question is- what skills could I acquire that would make me attractive to future/ prospective employers?
I have registered with FAS and am down for a course with them. I have applied for many different types of jobs with no success and realise now that I need something sought after. I am aware that there are few job opportunities available in general. I guess I'm wondering if there are any skills obtainable that are in constant demand.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would be grateful for people's advice.

Marge

There are two things to keep in mind... what can you do to make money... and... what can you do to keep abreast of upskilling. You can do both together, so that in time, what you will have learned will be a credit to you when things are more optimistic. Eg. there is a big demand in my area for logs (firewood) because alot of people have installed stoves lately. I know a guy very busy, supplying houses and shops with logs that are the ideal size to burn in these stoves... dont be a snob I suppose is what Im trying to say. Dont worry

JJJJNR

Fas is a great way to get started, they do a year long programming course, with placement at the end. Some friends (who were grads at the time) have done courses in FAS and been very successful. You are in the learning curve for a bit.

Manach

As with previous poster, I am somewhat skeptical of the usefulness of FAS, though perhaps they have changed and made their IT skills more relevant.

Useful skills to acquire might be about basic IT technology, such as Computer Literacy with a FETAC qualificaction.

Ellechim

Marge, it depends on what you want to work at: if you want to go into business I'd advise you to do a diploma in business studies or something like that because business employers now can cherry pick people with business qualifications.

There are a lot of us in the same boat: actually I was thinking of starting a thread 'jobseekers keep your pecker up' or somesuch. I have nearly 20 years experience, a primary degree, chartered accountant and an MSc, was contracting and had my second baby last summer and am now jobhunting. i have applied for two or three things every week since January and have only had two interviews, neither of which progressed. I am used to applying for three, getting two interviews and one job offer (because of my work history) so this is very different territory for me too - so you are not alone.

Anyway, this will pass, you will find a job, it might just take some time. The people who will get jobs are the ones who stay positive and work at it and also who use their network: talk to everyone you know looking for work. I would also consider volunteering perhaps to a local charity or something to do part time work - they always need extra pairs of hands. It will give you something to do, help build your network, get you some skills.

Best of luck.

gollem_1975

you could join a toastmasters club

there are almost 30 clubs in Dublin and 80 nationwide.

to find a club in your local area use the following link: http://www.toastmasters.org/find/

its a good way to meet people, improve communication skills and build self confidence.

every meeting features a "topics session" where a topic is called out and a volunteer is expected to provide an unrehearsed response lasting up to 2 minutes. this is very good preparation for an interview.

the second half of a meeting is where prepared speeches , usually about 5 to 7 minutes in length , are presented. each speech is then evaluated by an evaluator.

presentation and communication skills are very important to any organisation,business etc.

the aquisition of these skills in toastmasters is done in a positive and supportive environment and at the members own pace.

all clubs welcome guests and there is normally no cover charge for first time visitors.

as you can guess i am a member myself and I thoroughly recommend it.

Nolanger

nyarlothothep wrote: »

Archaeology is a fine intellectual pursuit, be proud of your degree!

because there'll be no jobs in that area here for another decade.