How bad is the job situation in Ireland at present

c - 13

Living away at the moment but giving serious thought to coming home.

Was home in April and it didn't seem to be too bad (I'm in the engineering sector) ?

You hear stories of the doom and gloom all the time but I'm a bit unsure of how exaggerated they are - so roughly how bad is it to find work at the minute ?

Sorry if this post is a bit disorganised, i'm a bit all over the place at the moment.

KillerKity

It's getting better but depends what industry you're in. I've had a few interviews and currently waiting for good/bad news! Engineering along with I.T. is your best bet. Competition is severe and from what I've seen wages are down but if you have experience I'd be confident on finding something. It'll take longer than a few years back but there ARE jobs out there!

Good Luck!

johnmurphy66

<<eth0_>> johnmurphy66 banned for a month for personal abuse.

bbam

From what I can see the majority of jobs are available in Dublin/Cork/Galway, this was always the case but more so now, outside these major urban centres jobs are scarse and in some areas there are none.

Beruthiel

c - 13 wrote: »

so roughly how bad is it to find work at the minute ?

Not easy.
A few years back, it would not have bothered me to loose a job, I knew I'd have no problem finding another within a month. In fact, I did that a few times (find a job within a month)
Now, I would be very worried to loose my job. I'm sure I would find one eventually, but it would take a lot longer to get and be for less wages.
Also, as there are now so many people out of work, the competition is fierce.

Have you tried looking at the market to see if the kind of job you are looking for is out there?

dan_d

To be honest..very bad. There are jobs but the competition is fierce. Most places don't even acknowledge that you've sent them in an email or application.
Construction is dead (I'm in it, and on my way out of it). It isn't too bad. The pharmaceuticals are hit and miss - many are letting people go.

MysticalRain

Pretty bad. I'm earning less than what I did four years ago, and will be lucky to still have a job next year.

Of course if you've got plenty of skills and qualifications, you may still get something. But it will be a lot less than what was on offer a year or two ago.

c - 13

Crap, sounds like its worse than I thought.

I've been sending out a good few CV's - but hearing very little back, not even PFO letters in most cases, but wasnt sure if it was just my CV and cover letter were sub-standard.

I'll keep plodding away so, don't think ill be making any rash decisions to come back without anything lined up first.

Thanks Guys.

majiktripp

How bad is the job situation in Ireland at present

113,000 long term unemployed.

Bad.

Tchaikovsky

195,000 men and 80,000 women.

Jesus.

majiktripp

This I believe is the key point in the article :

Mr Sweeney claimed the data significantly underestimated the numbers out of work and the scale of the social and economic devastation in communities across the country.

“When you add in the tens of thousands who have been forced to emigrate, the tens of thousands who have stayed in or returned to education for the same reason and the many thousands who want full time work but can only get part time or casual jobs, you get a more accurate picture of the scale of the problem and its huge social impact,” said Mr Sweeney.

“Taking those numbers into account, the true unemployment figure could be close to 20%.”

Firstly , I claimed my Jobseekers Benefit , but never claimed Jobseekers Allowance, I instead lived off my savings for an extended period while sorting out my emigration particulars. So once I finsihed my JSB , technically I came off the live register as I was never signing on anymore, so to the government figures, I was now employed.

And now as I'm leaving the country on a permanent residence visa, and falling into the Emigration category as mentioned above, it really makes me wonder exactly how accurate the figures for unemployemnt rates in this country are, especially if they're basing them soley on the live register.

irishguy

c - 13 wrote: »

Living away at the moment but giving serious thought to coming home.

Was home in April and it didn't seem to be too bad (I'm in the engineering sector) ?

You hear stories of the doom and gloom all the time but I'm a bit unsure of how exaggerated they are - so roughly how bad is it to find work at the minute ?

Sorry if this post is a bit disorganised, i'm a bit all over the place at the moment.

Very much depends on your skills/experience. I know there is quite a bit of IT work around (Know quite a few people who have moved recently). Seems to be a few accountancy jobs around too also some retail jobs (that I see advertised). If your in a construction related job you can forget about it. I think there is a lot of negativity out there at the moment, so its hard to know till you start looking and talking to people.

majiktripp

majiktripp wrote: »

113,000 long term unemployed.

Bad.

yeah, have a look at the QNHS Q1 2010

http://www.thepropertypin.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=31141




Q1 this year shows one of the biggest decreases in employment. Businesses are failing at the highest rate too. Self employed dont get dole so arent classed as unemployed. Have a look at the thread - over 100,000 gone from employment in the past 12 months only half are listed as unemployed. Remember many in construction worked for themselves

c - 13

Yeah i was looking at the unemployment figures alright - think it was over 14% ?

Cheers for the info guys, looks like theres nothing for it but to keep ploughing on and keep the applications going out.

c - 13

c - 13 wrote: »

Yeah i was looking at the unemployment figures alright - think it was over 14% ?

Cheers for the info guys, looks like theres nothing for it but to keep ploughing on and keep the applications going out.

no harm in applyin and all the while your gaining valuable experience.
Next year should be better, If you come back to Ireland with good savings in a year or two or three you`ll be in a very strong position.

maninasia

If you want to work in Ireland IT is probably the best bet. Many food industry too. It looks almost everything else is fubared.

fat__tony

As someone who left the country in January, I don't have any intention of returning anytime soon.

I'm currently based in Doha, Qatar working on the New Doha International Airport as a design engineer. Once this project finishes up I'll be off to either Australia or China.

It's been a great experience not only professionally but from a personal point of view also.

TelePaul

If you're looking to start work tomorrow or next week, the job situation is terrible. If you can hold out for two or three months and are persistent, it's a little better. There are jobs out there but competition is pretty fierce, you will probably be low-balled by firms who are cutting costs or those who know just how desperate people are. Send as many CVs as you can out per day and something will become of it. I think it's just a waiting game; things are gradually picking up, but it's slow-going. Good luck mate.

squire23

Honestly, reading some of these comments I think some people here might be on drugs. I'm in the Engineering sector & things are terrible. The simple fact is that there is NO work. There are no projects so there is no design, no construction, no comissioning, nothing.

I've been out of work for the last 7 months & have seen my various previous employers go from bad to worse with both massive wage cuts and/or job losses. My old company is currently operating on a 3-day week (used to be a hugely successful & well-known Engineering Consultancy) & will mostly likely have to start closing offices shortly.

As it is, I'm looking at going to the Middle East for work. Being straight up, if you're coming here looking for work in Civil, Mechanical, Building Services, Design or whatever type of Engineering - forget it.

dartbhoy

I'm working in the construction industry and i've never seen the jobs situation so bad. I'm out of work now 2 months and there is absoloutley no sign of any big projects coming up in the near future in this country. I'm applying for work in the UK and the Netherlands at present because i don't see no future in Ireland for me at present.

Lux23

It really must depend on your sector. I am being made redundant from a PR/Marketing role and I have been called for two interviews this week. One I had no interest in but the 2nd one is quite a good job and it is with one of the biggest companys in Ireland. But I can imagine that the competition will be fierce and that they may be interviewing 20 odd people for one role.

Dudess

Shocking in Cork.

Lux23 wrote: »

It really must depend on your sector.

I don't know... Think it seems across the board. Yeah, some sectors are faring better than others, but that just means they have a tiny few roles going rather than none.

On the other hand though:

I am being made redundant from a PR/Marketing role and I have been called for two interviews this week.

Wow! A sector I thought would really suffer - but yeah, there are quite a few vacancies on the PRII website.

Best of luck anyway...

RachPie

I suppose it's all down to what you do, but my boyfriend's just recently graduated from college and they won't take him on anywhere - no jobs in his field! They're all looking for experience, so if you have some of that in your area, you've a better chance of getting in with something.

Diddler82

c - 13 wrote: »

Crap, sounds like its worse than I thought.

I've been sending out a good few CV's - but hearing very little back, not even PFO letters in most cases, but wasnt sure if it was just my CV and cover letter were sub-standard.

I'll keep plodding away so, don't think ill be making any rash decisions to come back without anything lined up first.

Thanks Guys.

Hi mate,

If you can, dont put on your CV that you are living abroad...especially if you are applying to recruiters!! I am one and trust me, we want a quick kill, especially in this market. If you have an Irish mobile put it on the CV and put down that you are moving home soon (lie basically until you find something decent)

Basically, you wont get a huge amount of phone calls unless you are back home in Ireland. Im unsure if this is the same as employers but Im guessing it is not too far off the mark.

I may not be speaking on behalf of all recruiters (and may get one or two on here to say they would do this, or they wouldnt do that - high horse/full of sh*te and all that) but I know this is the case for the majority. Unfortunately I would say some companies are the same.

Basically, I would recommend that you say you are available within a maximum of 2 weeks of applying for interview and a month to start for both agencies and direct employers.

Hope this helps..
Alan

ICE HOUSE

I moved back here a couple of years ago and still havent been able to get a job. Biggest mistake of my life. Im highly skilled and cant get any kind of work. Then youve the greed of the employers just to infuriate and Pi*s people off more by offering pittance to do some job that they should be gettin ten fold that salary to do. I know its an employers market by jesus have some of them no F**kin shame. Then theres the other arse*ole employers with the smug faces and retard interview questions like what makes us a company that you want to work for or where do you see yourself in 5 years time.....Jesus....effin... christ.:mad:
Yea I really want to work with your company because ever since I was a schoolboy I dreamed of packin biscuits into a tin and puttin them on and assembly line. Where do I see myself in 5 years time??? Maybe if im really lucky I'll still be here and have been promoted to puttin jam into the biscuits:D
Rant Over!!!

REFLINE1

squire23 wrote: »

Honestly, reading some of these comments I think some people here might be on drugs. I'm in the Engineering sector & things are terrible. The simple fact is that there is NO work. There are no projects so there is no design, no construction, no comissioning, nothing.

I've been out of work for the last 7 months & have seen my various previous employers go from bad to worse with both massive wage cuts and/or job losses. My old company is currently operating on a 3-day week (used to be a hugely successful & well-known Engineering Consultancy) & will mostly likely have to start closing offices shortly.

As it is, I'm looking at going to the Middle East for work. Being straight up, if you're coming here looking for work in Civil, Mechanical, Building Services, Design or whatever type of Engineering - forget it.

+1

Lux23

Dudess wrote: »

Shocking in Cork.

I don't know... Think it seems across the board. Yeah, some sectors are faring better than others, but that just means they have a tiny few roles going rather than none.

On the other hand though:

Wow! A sector I thought would really suffer - but yeah, there are quite a few vacancies on the PRII website.

Best of luck anyway...

Thanks. Maybe I am being naive but I have a few quid to tide me over so can bury my head in the sand for a few months.

Raekwon

ICE HOUSE wrote: »

Then theres the other arse*ole employers with the smug faces and retard interview questions like what makes us a company that you want to work for or where do you see yourself in 5 years time.....Jesus....effin... christ.:mad:

Haha! Yeah, I've been hearing the same old interview questions for years now. The "where do you see yourself in 5 years" is particularity retarded considering the current economic crisis. I know you have to make yourself seem really ambitious yet totally committed to your potential employer but I for one haven't got a clue if I will even be in Ireland in 2015!!! :pac:

Back on topic, I've had people tell me on a daily basis that there are loads of IT jobs out there at the moment but what they fail to realise is that there are only development jobs (mainly .NET & Java) with zero Systems Support/Desktop/Administration/Networking etc, roles available. I've been unemployed a few months now and I've had 3 interviews, each interviewer has expressed their surprise at the sheer volume of applicants that they have received so it goes to show you that even if you do get an interview, the chances of getting the job are very remote, especially with the amount of vastly experienced and qualified people applying for 'lower' positions. Btw don't even get me started on the FAS WPP (aka work for free!) scheme which has done nothing but contribute to the lack of *available IT roles at the moment.

* available as in an actually full time position that pays you wages!!!

fat__tony

c - 13 wrote: »

Living away at the moment but giving serious thought to coming home.

Was home in April and it didn't seem to be too bad (I'm in the engineering sector) ?

You hear stories of the doom and gloom all the time but I'm a bit unsure of how exaggerated they are - so roughly how bad is it to find work at the minute ?

Sorry if this post is a bit disorganised, i'm a bit all over the place at the moment.

Don't even think about it!

I was home for 19 days in May and it is absolutely dire. I'm in engineering also.

I 'm glad I'm away from the place to be honest.

irishguy

Ya I can imagine that things in construction areas are very bad and will not improve massively for quite a while. If you could at all you should try to retain into a related fields (but one with jobs). Either that or move abroad for a while

doolox

If you have a job and a reasonable social setting, stay away from Ireland.
I have been out of work for the past 6 months and can't even get a call to interview except on 1 occasion for a junior job I would considered a backward step 4 yrs ago.

I am currently undergoing a root and branch analysis of my entire life in order to break out of the economic mess we are in.

If it wasn't for my wife being able to go back into full time employment we'd be finished as a family.

I now spend my time telling people to avoid technology and engineering in general like the plague as for me for the last 30 years it has been a thankless and difficult struggle fraught with fear, uncertainty,struggle,doubt and not worth the effort people have to put in to get anything out of it.

Unless you are a natural born tinkerer, with a love for technical things and machines and a natural flair for organisation and LIFE LONG Learning at an advanced and sustained level and also above average teamwork, team building and collaborative work skills at all levels and media then avoid engineering and technology as you won't get the money for your time and effort.

Ireland is politically and economically dead and will have to wait until the present shower are kicked out in 2 years time. The alternative is not much better and high taxes, constant debt, contingent work, temporary contracts and a hand-to-mouth existance is all most people will get.

Most other countries will probably have adjustments to make as well but most protect their workers better than here. Legally you have very little protection in Ireland and no guarantees.

I know of at least 2 close relatives who came home to jobs in the last 4-5 years and returned to their adopted countries after their Irish experience.

dan_d

To be honest OP, I think the headline below says it all.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/unemployment-hits-new-high-463621.html

Depressing, isn't it? Even worse when I think that I'm going to be one of those statistics in a couple of weeks.

fguihen

doolox wrote: »

Most other countries will probably have adjustments to make as well but most protect their workers better than here. Legally you have very little protection in Ireland and no guarantees.

Can you elaborate on this on this point please? I work with a few U.S citizens, and we have it much better.

They get 15 holidays per year. We get a min of 20( usually more).

They get a days notice of redundancy, we get over 2 months in our company, and the standard in Ireland is 4 weeks.

They get minimal redundancy pay, we get quite a large sum, depending on time served.

I dont know the status of how the working masses are treated in central Europe, but Id be very interested to hear how they are better treated.

penexpers

Raekwon wrote: »

only development jobs (mainly .NET & Java) with zero Systems Support/Desktop/Administration/Networking etc, roles available.

http://www.google.ie/intl/en/jobs/dublin/engops/

https://uk-amazon.icims.com/jobs/search?ss=1&in_iframe=1&searchKeyword=&searchLocation=32528--Dublin&searchCategory=

ToxicPaddy

Certain industries are on their knees at the moment and jobs are non existant, others are ticking over.. to be honest, if you have a half decent job anywhere, hold onto it..

There seem to be a fair few jobs being advertised but some are taking months to filter out those they want to interview because of the volume of applicants they are getting, others are finding half way through the process that their funding for a new position has been pulled and end up not hiring anybody..

Its all very hit and miss, the company I work for has hired a few people this year but most were for positions that became available due to people leaving to other jobs, moving to other offices abroad in the company etc, so the numbers are basically the same as they were this time last year..

Lux23

Out of the 12 people being made redundant alongside me, 6 have already found employment and then out of the other 6 only 3 actually want to find a new role. We aren't even finished until the end of July, I have had two interviews and have just been asked to attend two more. Maybe they are interviewing 100s of people and nothing may come from these interviews but I do feel positive about my prospects. But I have friends who have been out of work for months and haven't got a single interview, I am not sure if this is because I am alot more proactive or if companys are more interested in me because I have worked with a bigger brand.

mikemac

Lux23, what sector are you in?

hinault

c - 13 wrote: »

Living away at the moment but giving serious thought to coming home.

Was home in April and it didn't seem to be too bad (I'm in the engineering sector) ?

You hear stories of the doom and gloom all the time but I'm a bit unsure of how exaggerated they are - so roughly how bad is it to find work at the minute ?

Sorry if this post is a bit disorganised, i'm a bit all over the place at the moment.

Over 9,000 applications for 500 jobs at Dublin Airport's new Terminal 2 facility.

That will tell you the State of the jobs market here.

Factor in that 60,000 left our shores and unemployment is still rising month on month.

The picture is bleak.

Raekwon

penexpers wrote: »

http://www.google.ie/intl/en/jobs/dublin/engops/

https://uk-amazon.icims.com/jobs/search?ss=1&in_iframe=1&searchKeyword=&searchLocation=32528--Dublin&searchCategory=

Dude, the chances of getting a position in Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook or any other large US Multinational here in Dublin is fairly remote for the average monoglot individual with a degree and a few years experience, especially with their intense interview process and vetting systems (I know a guy that did 9 interviews with Google and still didn't get the role he was looking for!!!).

hinault

Raekwon wrote: »

Dude, the chances of getting a position in Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook or any other large US Multinational here in Dublin is fairly remote for the average monoglot individual with a degree and a few years experience, especially with their intense interview process and vetting systems (I know a guy that did 9 interviews with Google and still didn't get the role he was looking for!!!).

Those American companies go through some BS interview procedure when they're hiring alright.

A neighbour of mine applied to another American pharmaceutical company and went through the same HR BS process of endless interviews, with yanks who appear to only want to hear themsleves talking and with Irish-employed HR yakkies speaking in mid-Atlantic accents.

BS process.

doolox

I worked for years in large multinationals and , yes, officially if the company wants to stay out of trouble and stay operating, we have good employment protection and conditions relative to other countries. When the company and employer goes broke that protection vanishes.

My plight of losing a job and having a tough time was greeted with derision by people who were faced with closed gates on job sites, no warning, and no wages for the last month or so of their employment. Also other self employed people who are owed money and can't get it and have no recourse due to the insanely expensive court system we have.

A person in a job less than 2 years can be let go at the whim of the employer simply by "not fitting in". No excuse need be given.

Most junior jobs available now are temporary contracts, some with no entitlement to holidays or extras or sick pay etc.....

Essentially, if you get a permanent job here you are doing an interview for two years, you had better be on your best behaviour for them two years or they can let you go if they don't like you.

Stheno

It's one year not two that you can be let go without any legal protection

CiaranC

Arrived back in Ireland Saturday before last, have secured a half-decent job as of today (IT). So its not all doom and gloom.

dazberry

CiaranC wrote: »

Arrived back in Ireland Saturday before last, have secured a half-decent job as of today (IT). So its not all doom and gloom.

It's the other half of the job that's not decent that you've got to worry about (SH)!

D.

c - 13

CiaranC wrote: »

Arrived back in Ireland Saturday before last, have secured a half-decent job as of today (IT). So its not all doom and gloom.

Jesus that was good going, fair play.

maninasia

hinault wrote: »

Those American companies go through some BS interview procedure when they're hiring alright.

A neighbour of mine applied to another American pharmaceutical company and went through the same HR BS process of endless interviews, with yanks who appear to only want to hear themsleves talking and with Irish-employed HR yakkies speaking in mid-Atlantic accents.

BS process.

They use the same interview process all over the world, I went through 4 phone interviews with different personnel and still didn't get it, but by that time I had no strong motivation to work there. It's BS, adding on layers of interviews doesn't mean that the candidate is a better fit, one or two interviews then on the job..then you will know if the candidate is fit. Stupid HR depts...and a lot of those American companies just want people who will 'fit' in with their corporate speak..

Columbo

452,000 un-employed. Probably more un-employed now than at any other time in the States history.

On the plus side, there is a small chink of light at the end of the tunnel. Just hope it's not a train going to slap us in the face and send us into further dispair.

penexpers

maninasia wrote: »

They use the same interview process all over the world, I went through 4 phone interviews with different personnel and still didn't get it, but by that time I had no strong motivation to work there. It's BS, adding on layers of interviews doesn't mean that the candidate is a better fit, one or two interviews then on the job..then you will know if the candidate is fit. Stupid HR depts...and a lot of those American companies just want people who will 'fit' in with their corporate speak..

Having being on both sides, I can definitely see the merit in multiple interviews. I've interviewed people and there's no way that I could make a decision about whether to hire someone based on one interview and I don't see how anyone else could. It needs, imo, the collective agreement from multiple people (not just HR but people on the job as well). Hiring someone who turns out not to fit is a expensive process (in terms of money and time) and really doesn't benefit anyone. This can happen on both sides (candidate doesn't like job or company doesn't like candidate).

maninasia

Yes a few interviews but 5 or 10, it gets really ridiculous. I think leaders should stand up and choose the people they want and I don't think HR should get involved in general. I could definitely hire people on 1 interview. Most times you'll know from the interaction.
Just because you have 10 interviews definitely does not mean much as you can only see the fit on the job.
There's a thing called probation to do that.

parsifal

does anyone know on average, how many candidates apply for any given position these days? would be interesting to know what kind of competition i'm up against (i'm specifically interested in IT jobs)

irishguy

parsifal wrote: »

does anyone know on average, how many candidates apply for any given position these days? would be interesting to know what kind of competition i'm up against (i'm specifically interested in IT jobs)

Id say a lot of people apply, but for I know for development jobs they arent getting the people they want (for what they want to pay). So there is a shortage of people with specific skills and the right personality.