Laboratory Jobs in Ireland?

Hokuto

Hello. I have been 6 monnths unemployed at this stage after graduating from DIT with a Science degree. I have sent my CVs via e-mail through various recruitment agencies (e.g CPL, TTM) and had a few interviews on the phone but soon after that there have been no replies whatsoever, even after repeated phone calls. I have phoned and talked to laboratory managers either in hospitals, research laboratories and even factories with no follow-ups soon after.
I am wondering if anyone knows any hospitals/labs/companies in Ireland who is still employing people? Or is considering of taking some people in to work sometime this year?
At this stage I am seriously considering to emigrate to the UK to look for work. I am honestly sick and tired of being unemployed.
Any form of assistance would be appreciated very much.

discus

Have you tried contacting your old DIT lecturers for help/advice/connections?

Hokuto

I did send an e-mail to my former lecturer regarding my situation about a week ago. So far I got no replies, maybe I should try phoning him instead. I have talked to a few colleagues as well and they have suggested me to register to some of the medical recruitment sites online. I have called a few hospitals across the country and some did reply but they told me that the vacant positions might come up in a few months time. I don't want to wait that long for a job. They say the longer you are unemployed the harder it is for you to get a job. It's not like I don't want to work, jobs are just hard to come by.

jimthemental

Just emigrate, I've been applying for lab jobs now since August 2009, got a fair few interviews and second round interviews but no job. Working in another line at the moment but I need to get lab experience. I'm in the process of saving up emigrate myself. I already feel better about it now I've made the decision. I know it's not what you want to hear but things are in a bad way and only going to get worse. Best of luck with the hunting anyway though.

discus

I'm a lab chemist (I'm guessing you guys are biomeds?) and to be honest, there sees to be a few pharma QC jobs appearing now and then - would yous be bothered going for them, or are you keen on getting medical only? Britain and it's NHS seems to be the only way to go for that I'm afraid!

Hokuto

jimthemental: At this stage I am seriously considering moving to the UK but I'm not sure whether I am going to stay there for a few weeks or a couple of months in order to do some serious job-hunting. Financially I am a little restricted but I won't let this matter deter my ambition to bag myself a job.

discus: I am a Biomedical Science graduate. Ideally I would love to work as a medical scientist in hospital labs but as bad as things go now I would work as a laboratory attendant either in medical or non-medical fields. To be frank I am not too choosy on where I would work, just want to get some work experience and an income. I have tried to apply for a few jobs advertised in the NHS website as lab assistants only as in order for me to work in the UK as a medical scientist I have to first register with their Health Professions Council (HPC) and the process can take months
I am not sure whether you have to have a pharmaceutical-related degree (?) in order to work in a pharma-based company? (apologise if this seems to be a stupid question)

MotteDai

Hi

We work in the Pharma/Medical device industry, however not in the Lab field. Im aware that there are significant opertunities in this area given the large turnover of staff. I wouldnt get dispondant and perhaps tailor your CV to particular roles.

MotteDai

Just as a note its very much being aware from a conversational point however I would suggest getting a list of FDI companies from the IDA website, sitting down and phoning each one, submit your CV, for a few hours work it may provide worth.

Hokuto

Cheers for that MotteDai, I shall give your suggestion a try.

discus

Hokuto wrote: »

discus: I am a Biomedical Science graduate. Ideally I would love to work as a medical scientist in hospital labs but as bad as things go now I would work as a laboratory attendant either in medical or non-medical fields. To be frank I am not too choosy on where I would work, just want to get some work experience and an income. I have tried to apply for a few jobs advertised in the NHS website as lab assistants only as in order for me to work in the UK as a medical scientist I have to first register with their Health Professions Council (HPC) and the process can take months
I am not sure whether you have to have a pharmaceutical-related degree (?) in order to work in a pharma-based company? (apologise if this seems to be a stupid question)

Get started on the HPC now. Don't put it off.

You don't need a pharma related degree, but you can imagine that having one puts you ahead of someone without one. Having said that, people can end up funny places. If you can do some basic research on what a pharma chemist would do, and be able to link up your own skills to that then you may stand a chance. You've no doubt used HPLC / GC-MS / LCMS at some stage, yeah?

Waste0fSpace

I work in a pharma lab and in the last year we've had two guys in with no experience but with qualifications (one in biochem, one in toxicology) through FAS. As far as I know, FAS paid them so the money wouldn't be great but they got lab experience and they've both got jobs since (one guy with us, the other with another company). Since your on dole for a while you might qualify for a FAS scheme like that.

Hokuto

discus: yeah I've already started filling on the HPC forms, no point waiting and yes, I am familiar with GC, HPLC and LCMS although they were mostly utilised during the laboratory practicals

Waste0fSpace: that sounds promising. I was hesitant at first whether to apply for phara jobs but after reading what you said, i might want to give that a shot too