Civil Engineering jobs in Ireland?/ best agency to use for Engineers?

david4791

I was wondering which agency is best for Engineers in Ireland?, is the civil engineering sector dead in Ireland at present?. Where in the world is best to travel to find work as a Civil Engineer?.

breadmonkey

The industry is on its knees. Are you from Ireland?

david4791

Yes, working on a project in Monaghan, coming to a head in July. I have called icds recruitment and Irish jobs.ie, scary stuff. Have 2 kids under three so have to consider all options. Plenty of work in oz/nz but too far to consider at moment. Where you based?, are you in civils?

fat__tony

Unfortunately OP, If you wish to avoid the dole office you'll have no choice but to look overseas.

The construction industry is dead in the water.

breadmonkey

I agree with fat_tony, you'll almost certainly have to emigrate if you want to remain employed as a civil engineer. I'm in the UK at the moment doing a postgrad and doubt I'll be able to return to Ireland for 10 years, if ever.

david4791

Are you involved in construction and civils FAt Tony?

dan_d

I'm an unemployed civil.5 years out of college. You'll pick up a few weeks here and there, but that's about it. There are some jobs out there, but they tend to be very high level, looking for 10+ years experience (in absolutely everything, going by some of the ads).Either that or a site engineer/foreman/PM all rolled into one and willing to work 70hr weeks for about 25 - 30k (and take all the abuse that goes with that). Those type of jobs come up occasionally, but they're fairly rare too.

Engineers Ireland's website has a decent enough jobs section, but it's not updated daily, and what is updated tends to be abroad (as in Canada, Oz, Nigeria, UAE etc). Most websites file construction engineers under the "Construction" section, as opposed to all other type of engineering which they file under the "engineering and utilities" section, which gives you an idea of what kind of mentality you're dealing with in the recruitment agencies.I gave up on recruitment agencies, but having said that a couple of friends have got odd weeks work here and there through them - O' Neill and Brennan being the most recent I heard.I use recruitireland.com, irishjobs.ie and jobs.ie. I also search individual company websites because many engineering firms don't seem to advertise on these sites.

Honestly David, you'd want to do a good bit of thinking about your next step, because there's little or nothing out there in this country.I've been looking for some months now, and at this stage, am applying to do Masters in other areas, because I just don't see any way out of this.

david4791

I was considering doing a masters in Renewable Energy until I spoke with the head of Bord na Mona and also Mainstream Electricity (Eddie O Connor's new Co), they are seriously short on power engineers/electrical engineers and not renewable people or the likes. There are plenty of opportunities in the whole renewable sector but for high end electrical engineers which are few and far between. Education is certainly the way forward depending on the circumstances, I couldn't afford to proceed with level 9 education as I have mortgages and bills etc. There was talk about Trinity or UCD doing a 2 year switcher course for Civil persons to get qualified in electrical engineering, I dont believe this has come to pass yet. Good luck with all.

LimerickBishop

david4791 wrote: »

Yes, working on a project in Monaghan, coming to a head in July. I have called icds recruitment and Irish jobs.ie, scary stuff. Have 2 kids under three so have to consider all options. Plenty of work in oz/nz but too far to consider at moment. Where you based?, are you in civils?

David,

You're doing very well to have a job at all. I'm 18 months unemployed. Had an interview with Aussie Construction firm Fulton Hogan a few weeks ago but had no luck with a job even though they did say I was well regarded and made the second round. A few more Aussie Contractors have placed ads in the papers here, but competition is going to be intense for any jobs going.

If you can speak German, then go to Germany to find work.

dan_d

david4791 wrote: »

Education is certainly the way forward depending on the circumstances, I couldn't afford to proceed with level 9 education as I have mortgages and bills etc. There was talk about Trinity or UCD doing a 2 year switcher course for Civil persons to get qualified in electrical engineering, I dont believe this has come to pass yet. Good luck with all.

Interesting info. I am in a similar position to you, have mortgage and bills, but have to do something, because what's going on now ain't paying the bills either (unemployment).

It's a horrible situation to be in, and for our industry, there's no way out without some serious personal expenditure on further education, or emigration.

david4791

Agreed, lots of dilemmas to deal with. Whats UK like at the moment with work ?. Bishop there will be serious comp for every position on offer, survival of the fittest out there.

MissJustice

There is a huge structural engineering project going on in Sweden at present - Stockholm. Its the biggest project in Europe, and there is work there for a few years, I know someone who has gone to work out there. I can find out the details if you want, and you can contact me. I hope this helps. Its unfortunate its not in Ireland though

david4791

Thanks MJ, could you offer the link or contact please. Cheers.

Pope John 11

MissJustice wrote: »

There is a huge structural engineering project going on in Sweden at present - Stockholm. Its the biggest project in Europe, and there is work there for a few years, I know someone who has gone to work out there. I can find out the details if you want, and you can contact me. I hope this helps. Its unfortunate its not in Ireland though

MJ, Can you post me that link too. I would really appreciate it.

boreds11

If I was you I would send your CV directly to every contractor/consultant in the country so that they will have it on record so if a vacancy arises for whatever reason they will have their own stock of CV immediately to hand and get networking.

Agency wise some of them are absolute cowboys and spoofers engaged in mass CV harvesting which they will then fling at every possible employer on the planet in the hope that if you fling enough then one will stick somewhere. Although some agencies are quite good.

Unfortunately the construction industry is dead and given the state of the public finances the civil sector is ruined for many years to come. Once you have been let go it is pretty hard to get into another company in Ireland if you aren't very experienced like 15yrs+ with excellent contacts and anyone that does is working from day to day on very much reduced €'s.

But if you persevere you never know where a vacancy woud arise. But you should definitely evaluate moving abroad.

david4791

Hi Boreds11,
Your correct with regards to the agencies. I wonder how many Engineers are unemployed and staying put in Eire at present, conversely, how many have left?. There were figures in the media recently stating 1000 per week were emigrating, I would like to know of this 1000 pw, how many were returning immigrants along with the regular hoard of twenty something backbackers?. Its hard to contemplate emigrating at 37 years with kids and family, especially when the missus is against it.

dan_d

Not sure of details, but of my own experience, 28 yrs old, 5 yrs out of college, and still in touch with many from my class...

I know of one friend on a 5 day wk and with paycut of 20%
One on a 3 day week, 20% paycut (on top of the 3 day wk), currently retraining in his spare time
2 still fully at work with same pay with 2 different contractors.
1 still fully at work with same pay with a consultant
One lost his job recently after months on a 2 day week.
2 emigrated 2 years ago and won't be coming home
1 emigrated 3 years ago, has left the engineering business and won't be coming home
1 to the UK in the last 2 months following 6 months unemployment
1 to the UK within his own company (no other alternative)
2 to the UK for jobs having watched what was happening in their own companies.
1 working and retraining in a different industry since unemployment last year
A handful on reduced working weeks and frantically applying for everything else out there, both here and in the UK.

And myself - unemployed since mid last year.

Among my friends, the exodus continues. The group above, they all graduated 5 years ago and walked into jobs, mainly consultants, in Ireland.
Like I said, I don't have official stats, but what I see looking around in my own class and my own college friends, tells it's own story.

david4791

Thanks Dan D for the update. At the moment the UK would be my 1st pref rather than southern hemisphere.