Retraining/upskilling for process/manufacturing

MyStubbleItches

Hi folks, hope I'm posting in the correct forum.

So I've recently become unemployed having spent all my working life in construction. The last few years have obviously been pretty dismal in the sector though luckily enough I managed to find work through most of it. There is work out there and I probably could find bits and pieces to keep going but at this stage I really want out of it. I don't want to moan but the enjoyment has gone out of it. The winters are harsh (I work outdoors, in trenches, etc. - think muck, rain and cold!), there's no regularity or stability, one often has to travel long distances depending on where the work is. I used to enjoy the game but not anymore. And, yes, the good money made it easier to enjoy back in the day but obviously that is long gone.

So, at the age of 33, getting married shortly and hoping to build a home, I want to change. I live in Cork and there are a lot of factories within commuting distance. Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, etc. are all accessible. There is a baby food plant nearby - getting a job in there would be my lotto win. At this stage of my life I just want, crave even, stability and respect, decent working conditions and the ability to plan a short term and long term future. I'm not looking for rock-star wages, just a fair wage for a fair week's work.

I've trawled the web for openings that may suit, pretty much to no avail. One thing I find is that I don't really know what the jobs that are being advertised. There is a lot of industry-specific language and jargon that I'm not familiar with. I get confused by it and maybe its all basic stuff that I would be perfectly capable of doing.

So, does anyone here work in these industries that might be able to point me in the right direction? I am fully open to retraining myself, to taking courses that will get my CV a second look. Funds are limited obviously but if I have to pay for the right courses I would find a way to do so. I just can't afford to spend money on courses that might have little or no relevance or are inferior or not as recognised as others.

So far I think it would be beneficial to do a GMP course and a LEAN course. Am I right in thinking this? Are they all the same or are there cowboy operators out there that I should be avoiding? I understand that there are a lot of people in a similar situation to me trying to get into the same jobs as I'm hoping for and that I could have all the courses in the world and still not get work but I've got to start somewhere.

Thanks for reading, hope someone can help.

RubyGirl

I know of a couple of lads who have got jobs in medical devices company's who had construction backgrounds. One was a carpenter & the other electrician. I did it myself moved from secretarial work into a medical devices company.

The job's you would be looking at would prob be production operatives which mean working on the factory floor making medical devices or part of them etc. But there might be jobs going in the packaging dept, or warehouse aswell, you might have a safe pass course done which would help. If you were a electrician you might be able to get an engeneering job in a factory.

Apply for the job's anyway and then study up on them, when I went for the interview I was told going in if they asked about hobbies to tell them I liked gardening, reading, quiet hobbies as working on a production line can be boring and monotonous and they don't want someone who get's bored easily.

Hope it helps.

MyStubbleItches

Thanks Rubygirl, that absolutely helps. Yes, I would be looking at operators roles, I haven't got any relevant qualifications bar the safe pass and manual handling. I actually love reading and veg gardening so I wouldn't have to lie about my hobbies.

I feel like I'm coming up with courses to do willy-nilly but would a first aid course be an advantage that would be worth the cost?

brightspark

One thing I find is that I don't really know what the jobs that are being advertised. There is a lot of industry-specific language and jargon that I'm not familiar with. I get confused by it and maybe its all basic stuff that I would be perfectly capable of doing.

If you could give examples I could probably explain some to you.

You don't say what skills/qualifications you do have but perhaps you don't want to post them publicly here.

GMP is more accurately termed cGMP - current Good Manufacturing Practice, most companies run their own in house courses, specific to their systems. They normally prefer if you have already experienced working in a GMP environment, from dealing with contractors it's not easy to get used to all the hand washing etc, and also the amount of paper work before and after doing even the simplest of tasks. You may find that you need to take any job you can just to get experience of GMP.

LEAN is very popular amongst management along with Six Sigma, and often combined together, basically a way of improving efficiencies in already efficient workplaces. I've got by without it up to now, but I think it is one of those bits of paper that HR departments look for, pick your course carefully, some that I have been told about seemed to be more about games and teamwork than anything else, and I wouldn't like to waste my time and money on them. BUT it does show up on job specs!

brightspark

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

I feel like I'm coming up with courses to do willy-nilly but would a first aid course be an advantage that would be worth the cost?

Only the FETAC. Level 5 Occupational first aid cert is of any value to industry, even that would only be of use to them if they were low in numbers of first aiders on site, the good companies will have more than enough already, the others probably won't care.

MyStubbleItches

Thanks Brightspark.

I'm on the phone at the minute so I'll have a look on the laptop in the morning for job postings that I'm talking about. Probably won't be able to find one of course!

I worked in ground works. The only qualifications I have are Safe Pass and 360 degree excavator. My skills would be more far-ranging but I'm not sure how relevant they might be. I worked a lot on drainage systems. I guess I could fluff this up and say I installed pipe systems that were subject to stringent testing (which they were). One thing that might stand to me is that I spent the last 16 months working on a major expansion in a live distillery. The safety and paperwork for each task was huge so I'm used to that aspect.

So now should I consider doing the following;

First Aid
cGMP
6 Sigma
Lean

and if the above are worth doing, where would I start to look at doing them?

Brozy

I might be wrong but investing in such courses might be overkill for general operative positions.

I'd recommend getting your hands on some books about these subjects from libraries, internet etc. Familiarise yourself with some on the concepts your interested in. That way you'll be able to get through an interview comfortably.

There is loads and loads of free material on the internet on manufacturing practices.

Before you go sinking money into a course you may not need, try and get by with what's already out there.

MyStubbleItches

brightspark wrote: »

If you could give examples I could probably explain some to you.

Typically, I can't find an example now.

MyStubbleItches

brightspark wrote: »

LEAN is very popular amongst management along with Six Sigma, and often combined together, basically a way of improving efficiencies in already efficient workplaces. I've got by without it up to now, but I think it is one of those bits of paper that HR departments look for, pick your course carefully, some that I have been told about seemed to be more about games and teamwork than anything else, and I wouldn't like to waste my time and money on them. BUT it does show up on job specs!

Brozy wrote: »

I might be wrong but investing in such courses might be overkill for general operative positions.

I'd recommend getting your hands on some books about these subjects from libraries, internet etc. Familiarise yourself with some on the concepts your interested in. That way you'll be able to get through an interview comfortably.

There is loads and loads of free material on the internet on manufacturing practices.

Before you go sinking money into a course you may not need, try and get by with what's already out there.

This is my dilemma, I don't want to waste money on what might be irrelevant to me but, as Brightspark says it shows up on job specs. Its getting to the interview stage that is probably one of the hardest parts of getting a job and if my CV can stand out because I have certain buzzwords on it (LEAN, cGMP, etc.) then surely it would merit at least a second look.

Sligo IT are currently doing a free online introduction course to Lean Sigma. Maybe you could email them and see when they'll be running the course again. Might be good to do before you commit to studying it full time.

MyStubbleItches

Deleted User wrote: »

Sligo IT are currently doing a free online introduction course to Lean Sigma. Maybe you could email them and see when they'll be running the course again. Might be good to do before you commit to studying it full time.

Thanks for that Stephen, have just emailed them now.

Just to say, the help on here has been fantastic, thanks to everyone so far.

MyStubbleItches

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

Thanks for that Stephen, have just emailed them now.

Just to say, the help on here has been fantastic, thanks to everyone so far.

I'm actually doing the course now. PM me your email if you want and I can send you all the notes if you'd like.

MyStubbleItches

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm actually doing the course now. PM me your email if you want and I can send you all the notes if you'd like.

That would be fantastic, thank you very much. Sending PM now.

I received an email back from Sligo IT, they are thinking of running the course again in the springtime.

Some positive news today. I have been reaching out to people I know in the industries I want to get into and one of them has come back having spoken to their recruiter and I'll hopefully get an interview in the New Year. Depending on the interview and subsequent aptitude test I might get put on a list to be called for a job. Really happy that there is something positive, however small.

Should I try to get the cGMP course done in the meantime?

Mrs OBumble

Courses are all well and good, and i guess they'd prove to an emplor that you're serious.

But the most important thing is to work your network of friends and family. One of them is the most likely referral source that you will get a job thru.

MyStubbleItches

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Courses are all well and good, and i guess they'd prove to an emplor that you're serious.

But the most important thing is to work your network of friends and family. One of them is the most likely referral source that you will get a job thru.

I agree completely, its usually the best way in these situations. Just a while ago I got word that I have an informal interview with a recruiter soon that was arranged by someone I know who works in the industry so fingers crossed it goes well. I'm not presuming for a minute that I'll get a job from it but he/she might be able to point me in the right direction as to what I could do to make myself more attractive to a potential employer.

Fingers crossed.

corazon

I am on the Sligo IT Lean Sigma course too. It's free and can't hurt to have on the CV. Also check out springboard.ie. I am doing a course on their in Biotech with Sligo IT. It is all done online. Lot of Cork people taking it.

Irish_Elect_Eng

CIT cork has a wealth of great courses.


http://www.cit.ie/courses/eveningweekendcourseslist/

Also remember that there are a lot of free educational resources on the web now with very good material. Education an retraining is as much a bout opeing your mind and expanding your education as it is about the little pieces of paper and it all comes across in the interview.


Just two examples:

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

MyStubbleItches

Just an update.

I had an informal interview with a recruitment agency in Cork who hire for a major medical devices plant. It went well I thought, the recruiter spent over an hour with me and was friendly, easy to talk with and helpful. She thinks that come february they will be hiring for 11 month contracts. She thought my CV was good and that I should be suitable for a job there. She is to call me for an aptitude test in January and, if I pass that, I will be put on a list and hopefully something may come of it. I couldn't really get out of her how many people might be on that list, whether its hundreds or thousands.

So now its a waiting game, I don't know if anything will come of it. I'm not sure how much info I should put on here but maybe someone here is working there and has an idea of what I'm talking about and might be able to tell me how realistic my chances are.