Job Search ahead of returning to Ireland

spunkymunky

Hi All

Hoping you can help.

Ive been away from Ireland for about 4 and a half years and have made the decision to return home to Dublin mid September. While away i have been working in the same a field as I did when I lived in Ireland. So basically gained three and half years experience (Testing). When I get back I would like to get straight back into it (i'm not bringing a pot of gold home!) and get back to work ASAP.
I'm wondering how you would recommend going about it.
Should I just start applying for jobs in September and hope I score a few interviews for when I land or take an approach of contacting recruitment agencies sooner, trying to get a conversation going ahead of time and then meeting?
I really have no idea. Its been over 7 years since I've looked for work in Ireland.

Any help or advice is appreciated

Thanks,
Munky

CatFromHue

If you take it that most peoples notice period is a month and the recruitment process usually takes a few weeks in itself so that would have it 7 weeks.

Can you get to Ireland for a day to interview if needed?

Tom Dunne

I'd start applying now, making sure to emphasise dates etc.

Preliminary interviews can be done over the likes of Skype.

spunkymunky

CatFromHue wrote: »

If you take it that most peoples notice period is a month and the recruitment process usually takes a few weeks in itself so that would have it 7 weeks.

Can you get to Ireland for a day to interview if needed?

A day would be pushing it from New Zealand:eek: Its more and all or nothing move.

Cheers Tom. Never thought of Skype (even though that how my current company recruits)

Eimear_K

Hi, I was in a very similar position to you very recently.

I am currently in Australia but moving home next week. I started my job search in March and it was far, far too early. I went through a recruiter and while I did get a job through the recruiter in the end it severely limited my options (partly my own fault for agreeing to giving them a bit of a Carte Blanche for the first month they had my cv). Anyway some lessons learnt:

1. Don't start too early (I did and most companies said it was too far in the future). 7 weeks is a good time frame; there is time to interview, consider options, accept, negotiate contracts and hand in notice.

2. Tell people in NZ and Ireland what you're planning to do (unless it endangers your current job as in the case of contract work, in this instancce tell trusted colleagues only). I contacted the recruiter long before I told my colleagues, when I told my colleagues everyone was bursting to help me out and next thing was I had lots of contacts and leads for jobs. When you're at the other side of the world an introduction is invaluable in place of a face-to-face meet.

3. Contact old colleagues in Ireland. As per point number 2, people are generally glad to hear from you and willing to help. If they don't have work then they'll give you introductions.

4. Linked In. No matter what your profession it is so useful for checking out your interviewers profiles pre interview and they will search for you too.

5. Skype interviews are the norm. Include skype details on your CV. I did a telephone interview adn got a job out of it, they wouldn't ask you to fly home as it's too much pressure on them to hire you. Probation period once you start is their safety net if they think later that it was the wrong decision.

6. Avoid recruiters unless they have a specific job, do not let them send your CV out all over town.

Hope that's a help! Good luck!!