the best route to getting a job

Jollyrogerd

Hi folks looking for the best route for getting that elusive job,is it best to leave it to recruiters ie is cold calling dead..I seem to be forever waiting for agencies to get back to me then it's aPFO,what websites are best to use ie most successfull.any advice welcomed really need a good job to provide for my family,much like the rest of the nation I suppose

tenchi-fan

Jollyrogerd wrote: »

Hi folks looking for the best route for getting that elusive job,is it best to leave it to recruiters ie is cold calling dead..I seem to be forever waiting for agencies to get back to me then it's aPFO,what websites are best to use ie most successfull.any advice welcomed really need a good job to provide for my family,much like the rest of the nation I suppose

Waiting for agencies to get back to you :rolleyes: good luck!!

Phone the agencies weekly to let them know you're still available. Agencies have access to the hidden jobs market, including positions that are otherwise not advertised. Randomly call in occasionally when you're walking past, and if you do any mickey mouse courses call in especially to tell the agency. Some agency workers will be downright ignorant but others will appreciate the enthusiasm. They might come through for you some time but you cannot rely on them.

For advertised jobs, phone up the company and ask who you your cv should be addressed to. tailor your cv and cover letter to the role. Then make a follow up call shortly after emailing your cv.

For cold calling, try to get the name of a manager who will be able to hire you rather than blindly sending it to "Dear Sir or Madam" in the "HR Department." Even though you don't know what jobs are going, try to make it sound like you know exactly what you're looking for rather than saying "my cv is attached. please consider me for any suitable roles"

Finally, network. Ask friends, family, former colleagues and businessmen to drop your cv directly with hiring managers who may be able to give you a job. It can be helpful to email your contact a formal but informal email like "Hi J. It was good meeting you the other day. As discussed, I have 4 years experience in engineering and my cv is attached." Your friend can forward it directly to several of their contacts, such as their employer, a previous employer, a relative, etc. You have nothing to lose.

It goes without saying, a cv and cover letter cannot get you a job but it can get you an interview. Have someone look over your cv and cover letter to make sure it reads well and is free of errors. Don't be afraid to spend up to an hour tailoring a cover letter to a worthwhile job. Over time you could end up with several cv's and cover letters catered to various industries which require very little tweaking to customise them for a particular job.

mikemac

Which area are you looking to work in?

Jollyrogerd

Having worked in warehousing/distibution/stock control in the pharmaceutical & sheet metal industries as various roles such as storeman,sampling,supervisor,machine operator,hazardous goods disposal etc for the last 24 yrs probably that area due to my experience,but open to new challenges in any field sales,management,shipping/transportation,machine operator etc,my skills would ensure I'm a success given half the chance to get my foot in the door at interview.
It's getting an interview at the moment is the problem,everywhere nearly requires degrees which I don't have but 24 yrs experience knowledge far surpasses any degree I could hold.

dan_d

Get your CV structured properly for that. An absolute must.And if possible, get a really good cover letter too.

The websites I use are recruitireland.com and irishjobs.com.But I also comb through the websites of every company in my field that I can think of. Sometimes stuff gets advertised on the company website, and not on the recruitment sites (by the way, that's how I got a job recently)

Hunt recruitment agencies.Be ruthless.No point in being nice, nobody else is.

Ask everyone you know, who might know someone else, to keep you in mind for stuff.Repeatedly.

Read every paper, especially the business sections.Check the job ads (especially the small ones), read any stories about companies merging/buying out/setting up...anything that might provide an opening for you.

Send out a few emails to companies asking do they have anything, or will they have anything in the future. You'd nearly want to make a list of all the companies you can think of, to check as often as possible.

Be flexible, open to dropping your pay requirements and also very flexible in what you do.Don't stick stringently to the one thing, as it could be making it harder for you to find something.

But your CV is the most important, as it's the thing that will get you the foot in the door.

tenchi-fan

Jollyrogerd wrote: »

Having worked in warehousing/distibution/stock control in the pharmaceutical & sheet metal industries as various roles such as storeman,sampling,supervisor,machine operator,hazardous goods disposal etc for the last 24 yrs probably that area due to my experience,but open to new challenges in any field sales,management,shipping/transportation,machine operator etc,my skills would ensure I'm a success given half the chance to get my foot in the door at interview.
It's getting an interview at the moment is the problem,everywhere nearly requires degrees which I don't have but 24 yrs experience knowledge far surpasses any degree I could hold.

24 years experience.. it's all about networking really. You should have no shortage of contacts who can recommend you and put in a good word.

HR departments will think nothing of writing "must hold 2.1 degree in engineering or maths" for even the simplest of jobs. That is why it's important for you to bypass HR and go straight to the hiring manager.

professore

tenchi-fan wrote: »

24 years experience.. it's all about networking really. You should have no shortage of contacts who can recommend you and put in a good word.

HR departments will think nothing of writing "must hold 2.1 degree in engineering or maths" for even the simplest of jobs. That is why it's important for you to bypass HR and go straight to the hiring manager.

Ironically most HR staff wouldn't be able to pass JC Foundation maths themselves.

tenchi-fan

professore wrote: »

Ironically most HR staff wouldn't be able to pass JC Foundation maths themselves.

I'll be honest, I dislike a lot of people I met in HR who try to act like senior management rather than an admin function :mad:

Mrs OBumble

tenchi-fan wrote: »

24 years experience.. it's all about networking really. You should have no shortage of contacts who can recommend you and put in a good word.

I couldn't agree more.

Every week, if at all possible, invest some of your time and dole buying a coffee or beer for one contact (former colleague, friend, whoever) who you think might be able to introduce you to someone helpful.

Tell them what you're looking for, and what you can do for them.

Explicitly ask them to help you.

MidlandsM

dan_d wrote: »

Hunt recruitment agencies.Be ruthless.No point in being nice, nobody else is.

wtf? No one will get any job acting like that.:rolleyes:

Jollyrogerd

cheers thanks for the advice,much welcomed