Looking for a job and..

macca1983

i am wondering am i doing everything i can do? Looking on jobs.ie, irishjobs.ie, monster.ie, lodzajobs.ie, FAS website. Have registered with a few agencies. I do keep an eye on the newspapers but companies don't really advertise there.

Is there much more i can do? Being at it 5 months and have not got within an asses roar of an interview.

By the way is there a jobs/unemployed section on boards?

hobochris

Print some Cv's and go knocking on the doors of business handing them in.

Job's will not come as readily on job sites as they did previously.

Their are jobs out their you just have to look for them.

Welease

Have you taken a close look at yourself and what you can offer companies?

It's a buyers market at the moment, do you have skills that companies need?, can you offer them something they can't get elsewhere?, what do you have that makes it advantageous for them to spend the time and money to hire you during a recession which most companies are flat or shedding?....

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then I would spend the time to get answers and develop skills that make companies want to hire you..

Best of luck in your search.

macca1983

hobochris wrote: »

Print some Cv's and go knocking on the doors of business handing them in.

Job's will not come as readily on job sites as they did previously.

Their are jobs out their you just have to look for them.

Any other realistic ideas? It is 2009 man - the days of knocking on a door asking for a jobs are long gone. I am not looking to work in a shop - that is the only place i could see that one working.

The_Honeybadger

macca1983 wrote: »

i am wondering am i doing everything i can do? Looking on jobs.ie, irishjobs.ie, monster.ie, lodzajobs.ie, FAS website. Have registered with a few agencies. I do keep an eye on the newspapers but companies don't really advertise there.

Is there much more i can do? Being at it 5 months and have not got within an asses roar of an interview.

By the way is there a jobs/unemployed section on boards?

Was unemployed myself for four months myself earlier in the year, what sector are you looking in and how much experience do you have etc? Very hard to recommend anything unwell we know that. Websites i found to be hit and miss at the best of times but best to keep an eye everywhere

greendom

macca1983 wrote: »

Any other realistic ideas? It is 2009 man - the days of knocking on a door asking for a jobs are long gone. I am not looking to work in a shop - that is the only place i could see that one working.

What about some training to improve your employability or at least to reduce your boredom while you wait for the job market to pick up. FAS have been knocked a fair bit recently but the do offer some decent courses.

segaBOY

macca1983 wrote: »

Any other realistic ideas? It is 2009 man - the days of knocking on a door asking for a jobs are long gone. I am not looking to work in a shop - that is the only place i could see that one working.

No offence but this type of attitude is your problem. That was a very good suggestion-face to face contact is far more personal and you are more likely to stick out in the employers mind over a faceless e-mail.

Good luck.

P.S. Working in a shop isn't a bad thing, better than having gaps on your CV.

oscarBravo

Moved from Irish Economy.

macca1983

segaBOY wrote: »

No offence but this type of attitude is your problem. That was a very good suggestion-face to face contact is far more personal and you are more likely to stick out in the employers mind over a faceless e-mail.

Good luck.

P.S. Working in a shop isn't a bad thing, better than having gaps on your CV.

My attitude is certainly not my problem. My attitude is great as far as i am concerned - i have stayed positive and continue to apply for jobs each day. A face to face meeting in this day and age is not particularly realistic - can you really see someone walking into AIB, Pfizer, etc., have a meeting with someone and then suddenly they will create a position, job specs and an extra 30,000 - 40,000 to pay you. Times have changed - we have moved onto websites, agencies, etc.

macca1983

greendom wrote: »

What about some training to improve your employability or at least to reduce your boredom while you wait for the job market to pick up. FAS have been knocked a fair bit recently but the do offer some decent courses.

Not to sound snotty, but have being into FAS and no course they offer will improve my employability. I am starting a course in January and have being told by FAS today i will have to pay for it as funding has someone dried up as the top boys blew so much cash. Very frustrating.

macca1983

Welease wrote: »

Have you taken a close look at yourself and what you can offer companies?

It's a buyers market at the moment, do you have skills that companies need?, can you offer them something they can't get elsewhere?, what do you have that makes it advantageous for them to spend the time and money to hire you during a recession which most companies are flat or shedding?....

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then I would spend the time to get answers and develop skills that make companies want to hire you..

Best of luck in your search.

Cheers.

I am beat foolish from self analysis! I understand your questions but tis not as black and white as that - things are so bad now upgrading your skills will not guarantee anything and may not improve your chance.

segaBOY

macca1983 wrote: »

My attitude is certainly not my problem. My attitude is great as far as i am concerned - i have stayed positive and continue to apply for jobs each day. A face to face meeting in this day and age is not particularly realistic - can you really see someone walking into AIB, Pfizer, etc., have a meeting with someone and then suddenly they will create a position, job specs and an extra 30,000 - 40,000 to pay you. Times have changed - we have moved onto websites, agencies, etc.

Ok, suit yourself. You don't even tell us what field you are looking for a job in and expect all the answers.

shoppergal

You've mentioned a few websites but not www.recruitireland.ie . They're way cheaper than other job sites for employers to advertise so that's where I'm posting any jobs I have

Welease

macca1983 wrote: »

Cheers.

I am beat foolish from self analysis! I understand your questions but tis not as black and white as that - things are so bad now upgrading your skills will not guarantee anything and may not improve your chance.

That depends on your skills (and experience), and the demand for those skills in the workplace. It's difficult to tell, given the limited information you are giving on your skills...

But if you have not even received one interview (and thats a key indicator), then there are a couple of possibilities..

1) You skills do not match the jobs you are applying for
2) Your skills are below the level of the others applyling for job

Nothing you can do will "guarantee" you a job, but they key issue for me at least would be to understand why you are not getting a single interview.. Up to that point, the hiring company only has a list of your skills and experience on which to judge your suitability. No interview means they (in general) are insufficient in comparison to your competition.

Maybe another idea would be to speak to an agency about a particular job they have, and see if they will let you get an idea of the skills of other people they are putting forward for that position (or ideally those who have been called for interview).

and finally.. make sure your CV doesn't suck...In the last 15-20 years I have read probably in excess of 3000+ CV's for maybe a hundred plus positions, and the amount of spelling mistakes and bad grammer is sometimes unbelievable.. The is your first (and maybe only) impression to that company, you have months to make it good.. if it's bad, it speaks volumes about the applicant..

Best of luck.

cute_cow

macca1983 wrote: »

can you really see someone walking into AIB, Pfizer, etc., have a meeting with someone and then suddenly they will create a position, job specs and an extra 30,000 - 40,000 to pay you. Times have changed - we have moved onto websites, agencies, etc.

This I have to agree with, used to work in a company where people would come in and drop off CV's and these went to the shreadder before anyone could see them, most people will not accept CV's like this anyway.

It's hard enough to try and get HR on the phone to follow up with applications, let alone walking in off the street and asking to meet them face to face without having a job to interview for, is as rare of hens teeth.

If possible, try and email CV's to these companies. At least the wil be electronic and more likely to be noticed and "put on file" for future positions. Most larger companies have generic emails like hr@ or info@ so mayb etry that.

I am in the same position as yourself OP, been 4 months, and have had only 2 interviews worth mentioning. I check all the job websites 2/3 times a day and sending applications for positions I would be able to know, but its knowing only 50% of applications will be seen is the killer. I applied for some shop work christmas positions with Superquinn and Arnotts, but never heard back from them either.

Just keep hacking on with it, apply for anything you can do, and follow up on these applications after about 3-4 days. And also use your resources, if you are registered on sites like linkedin.com try and add people from recrutiment agencies and at least this is another way for you to contact them, and for them to see your profile and skill set.

Also try and use friends of friends (sounds bad using the word"use", but you know what I mean) and ask them if they have heard of any jobs in companies coming up, you never know who knows what.

Its tough, I know that, and it can be disheartening, but you seem to have stayed positive, which in itself is an accomplishment. And I know its no consolation, but there are almost 500,000 other people like you, so don't feel alone in wondering if you are doing enough.

Good luck!!

pog it

+1 re. making sure your CV is free of typos and has an attractive layout, etc.

+1 re. hard to give you specific advice when you haven't offered the information about what field you are working in at least.


From recent personal experience, changing your strategy is definitely effective. It could be trying a new jobs website as suggested, and while I agree about not knocking on doors if it's a professional job you want, (may be a few exceptions) I reckon if you make a phonecall that would be less desperate and come across as enthusiastic and interested to any potential employer.
Definitely have the skills that they will need from you if you go down this road.

This is all good and well when you know what job you want specifically and we don't know whether you have decided on something specific or if you are say looking for admin jobs, or finance related jobs, and firing cvs at everything like a mad man/woman.

macca1983

cute_cow wrote: »

This I have to agree with, used to work in a company where people would come in and drop off CV's and these went to the shreadder before anyone could see them, most people will not accept CV's like this anyway.

It's hard enough to try and get HR on the phone to follow up with applications, let alone walking in off the street and asking to meet them face to face without having a job to interview for, is as rare of hens teeth.

If possible, try and email CV's to these companies. At least the wil be electronic and more likely to be noticed and "put on file" for future positions. Most larger companies have generic emails like hr@ or info@ so mayb etry that.

I am in the same position as yourself OP, been 4 months, and have had only 2 interviews worth mentioning. I check all the job websites 2/3 times a day and sending applications for positions I would be able to know, but its knowing only 50% of applications will be seen is the killer. I applied for some shop work christmas positions with Superquinn and Arnotts, but never heard back from them either.

Just keep hacking on with it, apply for anything you can do, and follow up on these applications after about 3-4 days. And also use your resources, if you are registered on sites like linkedin.com try and add people from recrutiment agencies and at least this is another way for you to contact them, and for them to see your profile and skill set.

Also try and use friends of friends (sounds bad using the word"use", but you know what I mean) and ask them if they have heard of any jobs in companies coming up, you never know who knows what.

Its tough, I know that, and it can be disheartening, but you seem to have stayed positive, which in itself is an accomplishment. And I know its no consolation, but there are almost 500,000 other people like you, so don't feel alone in wondering if you are doing enough.

Good luck!!

Thank you for saying that! It would just look silly to walk into a company and demand a chat with HR.

macca1983

Welease wrote: »

That depends on your skills (and experience), and the demand for those skills in the workplace. It's difficult to tell, given the limited information you are giving on your skills...

But if you have not even received one interview (and thats a key indicator), then there are a couple of possibilities..

1) You skills do not match the jobs you are applying for
2) Your skills are below the level of the others applyling for job

Nothing you can do will "guarantee" you a job, but they key issue for me at least would be to understand why you are not getting a single interview.. Up to that point, the hiring company only has a list of your skills and experience on which to judge your suitability. No interview means they (in general) are insufficient in comparison to your competition.

Maybe another idea would be to speak to an agency about a particular job they have, and see if they will let you get an idea of the skills of other people they are putting forward for that position (or ideally those who have been called for interview).

and finally.. make sure your CV doesn't suck...In the last 15-20 years I have read probably in excess of 3000+ CV's for maybe a hundred plus positions, and the amount of spelling mistakes and bad grammer is sometimes unbelievable.. The is your first (and maybe only) impression to that company, you have months to make it good.. if it's bad, it speaks volumes about the applicant..

Best of luck.

Not in a million years would i have a mistake on my CV. I am simply too professional for that!!

Anyway i work in HR, have 2.5 years good experience in it, have degree and masters so next bit of education i could do is MBA but i don't have the money at the moment for it and i would need more experience. HR is dead.

Anyway i have read through most peoples suggestions and i have covered all those bases. I just wanted to see was i missing anything obvious or credible and it looks like i have not. I will continue to drive on! Cheers for all the replies - has put my mind somewhat at ease - at least i am safe in the knowledge i am doing everything i can do.

macca1983

shoppergal wrote: »

You've mentioned a few websites but not www.recruitireland.ie . They're way cheaper than other job sites for employers to advertise so that's where I'm posting any jobs I have

I check that one too! I think you might find jobs.ie is a bit cheaper, it was when i was in charge of advertising positions about two years ago anyway. If i save you money on advertising i expect a cheque in the post!