Applying for so many jobs & not getting interview. Whats the ratio!?

B.A._Baracus

Hey everyone.
I lost count on how many jobs I applied for in July and I am just sitting here thinking how many jobs do I (or anyone else) have to apply for just to get an interview let alone the job??!

I know you could say it's just luck of the draw. Apply at the right time or what have you. But honestly, I can apply for 40 jobs and hear nothing back. Is it me? or do others experience the same ratio?

and we are talking about just random jobs like retail, warehouse, etc etc. 'Joe Jobs' if you wanna call them that.

grahamor

Are you writing a different cover letter for each position ?

Perhaps some advice on your approach to applying might help. tailored CV for each position, cover letter etc.

InReality

This a random ratio , but one I remember.
I was looking for a work placement as part of a FAS IT course . This was about 15 years ago. I send off about 80/100 letters to a list of IT companies and I got 2 interviews off it.

B.A._Baracus

grahamor wrote: »

Are you writing a different cover letter for each position ?

Perhaps some advice on your approach to applying might help. tailored CV for each position, cover letter etc.

I do.
Always write out a tailored cover letter for each job. Make sure to to address it to the company and state requirements/experience they mention in the job listing. I even write my cover letters to the point - knowing the whole "X amount seconds employer spends on cv" rule.

It's just getting messed up I find.

BigCOB

Best practice for companies is to at least reply acknowledging they received you CV and subsequently saying you were unsuccessful etc. It is best practice, however it rarely happens these days. Having worked in a HR setting myself it was not uncommon to receive up to 100 CVs per job and alas sometimes, some will be missed.

Now, sitting on the other side of the table, helping people find work, I indirectly make dozens of applications each month and can say that about half will receive acknowledgements and about 10% of them will be interviewed.

I agree with the above, if you are genuinely consistently sending in applications and never hearing a word, you may have an issue with your layout and your cover letters (do you even include a cover letter? some applicants in the past have not and I have completely ignored them as they have not met the basic requirements of an application). On top of that, are you sending them via email? Ensure your account is active and your emails are not being treated as spam. If you are hand delivering, always try to get the manager, I have seen people take CVs from walk ins and dump them afterwards for self preservation, crazy I know!

Most towns and cities have Jobs Clubs, these are for people in receipt of SW (which is an assumption I know), so if you can, avail of this facility to get your applications up to scratch.

Feel free to PM me for more info specific to your location.

I was in you position, lost count of how many jobs I applied for and only got 2 interviews,

One of the interviews was a new shop opening in town,I was told up to a 1000 people applied!!

There is just so many people out there in your position looking for jobs,Its a tough environment at the moment to be jobhunting,

Dont worry though something will come your way,

good luck!

B.A._Baracus

Thanks BigCOB
I've been told a few times I have a good cv. See I am in my late 20s and when I was younger I had so many jobs But from that I naturally got critiques from managers as some would say they like what I did in XXXX.... not in XXXX and I learned from it.

I mainly apply through jobs.ie and you always get that auto email back. But only a few will actually reply back. But I wonder is the ratio I experience, experienced by others?

B.A._Baracus

aaronc182 wrote: »

I was in you position, lost count of how many jobs I applied for and only got 2 interviews,

One of the interviews was a new shop opening in town,I was told up to a 1000 people applied!!

There is just so many people out there in your position looking for jobs,Its a tough environment at the moment to be jobhunting,

Dont worry though something will come your way,

good luck!

Thanks man
and that is insane...

Tarzana

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Thanks BigCOB
I've been told a few times I have a good cv. See I am in my late 20s and when I was younger I had so many jobs But from that I naturally got critiques from managers as some would say they like what I did in XXXX.... not in XXXX and I learned from it.

I mainly apply through jobs.ie and you always get that auto email back. But only a few will actually reply back. But I wonder is the ratio I experience, experienced by others?

Jobs.ie is crapola.

Apply directly to companies or through irishjobs.ie or indeed.ie.

BigCOB

indeed.ie is great, irishjobs, sometimes (and only sometimes) the fas.ie website is good, activelink.ie, and so on, all worth using. Indeed.ie has an app for your phone too which I use a lot, it's handy as it remembers your searches and you can apply from your phone and such.

House of Blaze

Hey BA, i'm in a similar position, have completely lost count of how many applications I have made since February.

I would put the figure at somewhere between 5 and 15% of companies who will respond in any meaningful way to an application, and by 'meaningful', I just mean beyond an autoresponse email.

I have probably had about 6 face to face interviews and another half dozen or slightly more phones interviews.

I use jobs.ie, irishjobs, findajob, recruitireland and londonjobs.co.uk as well as applying directly via email addresses and through company websites.

Going to check out activelink and indeed now thanks to BigCOB above!

davo10

As an employer, I cannot stress how important the quality of a CV is. Every job advertised will get dozens of applicants and the difference between getting an interview and not can be the quality of your CV.

Bring your CV to a professional, get it typed on good quality paper, formatted correctly, and bound in a folder with a see through cover. I throw crappy cv's in the bin without even reading them, if they have spelling mistakes or mistakes in grammar etc, they go in the bin.

sebbplatter

davo10 wrote: »

Bring your CV to a professional, get it typed on good quality paper, formatted correctly, and bound in a folder with a see through cover. I throw crappy cv's in the bin without even reading them, if they have spelling mistakes or mistakes in grammar etc, they go in the bin.

While I agree that a cv must be well presented and professional looking very few people actually submit hard copies of cvs these days.
In fact I can't remember the last time I actually held a physical copy of my cv in my hand or was asked for one.

I would presume the vast majority of job applications are made online and via e-mail through job sites and recruitment agencies.

I don't see the need for anyone to have to go buying fancy paper and folders unless they're specifically asked to present something at interview or perhaps dependent on their field like say for a design job or something it might be relevant but otherwise people should just ensure their cv is not overly long, is easy to read, well laid out, proofread and relevant to the job they're applying for.

The days of handing in cvs by hand is pretty much gone I would have thought.

cloudatlas

I don't think ratios are they way to look at this.

I still apply for work in my career area that I don't have quite the right experience for but there are so many people applying, I find that the only interviews I have got lately are for jobs where I hit absolutely everything on the job specification that means the essential and desirable list.

Tarzana

cloudatlas wrote: »

I find that the only interviews I have got lately are for jobs where I hit absolutely everything on the job specification that means the essential and desirable list.

God, that's depressing.

davo10

sebbplatter wrote: »

While I agree that a cv must be well presented and professional looking very few people actually submit hard copies of cvs these days.
In fact I can't remember the last time I actually held a physical copy of my cv in my hand or was asked for one.

I would presume the vast majority of job applications are made online and via e-mail through job sites and recruitment agencies.

I don't see the need for anyone to have to go buying fancy paper and folders unless they're specifically asked to present something at interview or perhaps dependent on their field like say for a design job or something it might be relevant but otherwise people should just ensure their cv is not overly long, is easy to read, well laid out, proofread and relevant to the job they're applying for.

The days of handing in cvs by hand is pretty much gone I would have thought.

The pro will help you write and format the cv, it can be emailed and/or printed. A crap electronic cv is as bad as a crap printed cv. You only pay once for the pro advice regardless of how it is sent.

I still get paper cvs handed in, if they look crap, don't give obvious info or have spelling/grammar mistakes, they are in the bin long before I get to the part where applicant tells me how qualified/good they would be for a job. It's even easier on a computer, delete, delete, delete.

My point is this, every employer gets huge numbers of applications for each job. The decision to give even an interview will be based on your cv, it's content and it's presentation. Every employer will discard crap cv's as a way of filtering applicants, the rationale being if you can't do a good job on something so important and for which you have had time to prepare, what are you going to be like doing this job.

Advice: your cv is your point of entry to getting as job, optimise it, most others will not have done this so yours may stand out and it could be the difference in getting an interview and your cv being in the bin (physical or electronic).

sebbplatter

No need to pay for anything there's any amount of free cv advice and professionally designed templates online and lots of cv preparation resources if one takes the time to look.

davo10

sebbplatter wrote: »

No need to pay for anything there's any amount of free cv advice and professionally designed templates online and lots of cv preparation resources if one takes the time to look.

Which a lot of people seem to use but still manage to make a mess of it.

Roquentin

i must have sent off about 50 cvs at this stage. Cant even get a jobbridge it is that bad. id say the ratio is 40:1 or thereabouts

daz1988

my friend was in the same position but then he started to call and email and ask the boss to meet him you have a better chance this way

Roquentin

daz1988 wrote: »

my friend was in the same position but then he started to call and email and ask the boss to meet him you have a better chance this way

Yea in todays environment you have to show that you want the job. Id say handing in cvs and meeting the boss would look better.

I'm in the same situation. I got professional cv advice and applied for jobs that I had experience in and didn't even get an interview. At a jobs fare I spoke to recruiters and they said the reason might be because I'm living abroad so now I put an Irish address on my cv. Irishjobs.ie is terrible. Jobs listed 5 years ago still up there. All we can do is keep applying. Good luck op.

Roquentin

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm in the same situation. I got professional cv advice and applied for jobs that I had experience in and didn't even get an interview. At a jobs fare I spoke to recruiters and they said the reason might be because I'm living abroad so now I put an Irish address on my cv. Irishjobs.ie is terrible. Jobs listed 5 years ago still up there. All we can do is keep applying. Good luck op.

true. All you can do is apply. There is too many people and not enough jobs

Irishguy16

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Hey everyone.
I lost count on how many jobs I applied for in July and I am just sitting here thinking how many jobs do I (or anyone else) have to apply for just to get an interview let alone the job??!

I know you could say it's just luck of the draw. Apply at the right time or what have you. But honestly, I can apply for 40 jobs and hear nothing back. Is it me? or do others experience the same ratio?

and we are talking about just random jobs like retail, warehouse, etc etc. 'Joe Jobs' if you wanna call them that.

I know exactly how you feel. I was also in your shoes a few years ago. Back in late 2010/early 2011, I tried about 100 jobs everywhere, shops, warehouses, pubs, cafes....and just no luck. I had a couple of interviews, but I was always at a disadvantage. I remember one day in particular trying for a job at Topaz. The interview went really well, but the problem was there were 120 interviews for 4 positions.

It is a shambles having to suffer and not being able to find any work and there doesn't seem to be much of an improvement in recent years. I emigrated long ago and I won't be returning to Ireland anytime soon.Ok, unemployment is down to 11%, but that is due to immigration. I can't understand how some people, not Irish, living in the country can get so many benefits, but the honest Irishman can't even get a job at his local shop. There needs to be a focus on job creation and it needs to be done quickly. England only has a 6% unemployment rate. It's terrible what has happened

Roquentin

Irishguy16 wrote: »

I know exactly how you feel. I was also in your shoes a few years ago. Back in late 2010/early 2011, I tried about 100 jobs everywhere, shops, warehouses, pubs, cafes....and just no luck. I had a couple of interviews, but I was always at a disadvantage. I remember one day in particular trying for a job at Topaz. The interview went really well, but the problem was there were 120 interviews for 4 positions.

It is a shambles having to suffer and not being able to find any work and there doesn't seem to be much of an improvement in recent years. I emigrated long ago and I won't be returning to Ireland anytime soon.Ok, unemployment is down to 11%, but that is due to immigration. I can't understand how some people, not Irish, living in the country can get so many benefits, but the honest Irishman can't even get a job at his local shop. There needs to be a focus on job creation and it needs to be done quickly. England only has a 6% unemployment rate. It's terrible what has happened

100% agree with you man.

Tarzana

Irishguy16 wrote: »

Ok, unemployment is down to 11%, but that is due to immigration.

And Jobbridge.

Had no idea that there was such a disparity between the unemployment rates of the UK and Ireland.

House of Blaze

Yeah, I just recently that the UK economy was back to pre 2008 levels on several fronts and I was pretty gobsmacked.

Something to be said for the fish in the bowl effect I guess.

The number of people in work (as opposed to the number unemployed) has been rising steadily for about a year to 18 months now. It's not rapid but the economy is showing undeniable signs of recovery.

Tarzana

Angela Ripe Cane wrote: »

The number of people in work (as opposed to the number unemployed) has been rising steadily for about a year now. It's not rapid but the economy is showing undeniable signs of recovery.

In some areas. But the fact that 28,000 people applied for the recent civil service clerical officer competition shows that things are still pretty bad out there. These are basic enough positions that pay 21k a year.

I live in Dublin and am in a basic data entry position that I got in February. People with 20 years administrative experience applied for my job.

B.A._Baracus

Noticing a strange thing that happens on jobs.ie
Basically last week I applied for a retail job. A small shop in a shopping centre. Now we all know jobs.ie is a popular website. Sure I had an employer tell me they had 600 people apply for 26 positions. So there is no shortage of people applying.

But going back to the small shop and they relisted the position again. But I see this happen so much. Now you have to figure they get alot of responses in the first 5 days of a job being posted. So whats all this constant relisting.

Tarzana

Tarzana wrote: »

In some areas. But the fact that 28,000 people applied for the recent civil service clerical officer competition shows that things are still pretty bad out there. These are basic enough positions that pay 21k a year.

I live in Dublin and am in a basic data entry position that I got in February. People with 20 years administrative experience applied for my job.

Yeah well the unemployment rate is still 11%+ so obviously plenty of people still looking for work. But it's not just emigration and jobbridge causing the unemployment numbers to come down. Just today announced income tax is up 7.6% on last year. Hopefully it keeps improving and more people get back to work.

Tarzana

Angela Ripe Cane wrote: »

Yeah well the unemployment rate is still 11%+ so obviously plenty of people still looking for work. But it's not just emigration and jobbridge causing the unemployment numbers to come down. Just today announced income tax is up 7.6% on last year. Hopefully it keeps improving and more people get back to work.

Hope so too!

House of Blaze

There are a lot of people classed as in full time education as well, who swell the number of people actually competing for jobs without being counted on the live register / for unemployment figures. The numbers don't fully describe the environment.

Roquentin

House of Blaze wrote: »

There are a lot of people classed as in full time education as well, who swell the number of people actually competing for jobs without being counted on the live register / for unemployment figures. The numbers don't fully describe the environment.

i know its illogical, but take everyone out of education and jobbridges and bring back everyone who has emigrated and the unemployment ratio would be what?

Edit: A rough approximation is what i am looking for

Cyclonius

It's not exact, but this article from June 2013 might give you an indication of the types of figure that you're looking for Roquentin.

Roquentin

Cyclonius wrote: »

It's not exact, but this article from June 2013 might give you an indication of the types of figure that you're looking for Roquentin.

20% would be around what i would have guessed. ****ing hell

NipNip

I don't know whether it's worse receiving a specific reply or receiving no reply whatsoever. I had a little whinge for myself yesterday evening after receiving two PFO letters (I'm a sensitive wee soul!). At least if you receive no response you can imagine scenarios where they are too ignorant to reply and you wouldn't want to work for them anyway if that's the case, or that they didn't bother reading your long thought out letter of application. But when they reply and tell you "We had a very large response to this advertisement and unfortunately we received a number of CVs which our client would consider more suited to their needs than your own." and then "Unfortunately you do not have the relevant experience required by the client for this position. I will keep your details on file should any other suitable vacancies arise. " within 5 minutes of each other, you start to question your sanity lol. BTW - I had the requested experience. Maybe I didn't 'sell myself' well enough. Ach, the pain in the ass of applying for jobs!

NipNip

And if I see one more job advertisement beginning with those dreaded 6 words 'The intern will gain experience in........................'
AAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

starlit

For interviewers, the CV and Cover Letter is what they will see first. I went to college and back a few times and each time i've been more succesful wtih getting interviews compared to after my degree then the recession hit and it just made it harder to get interviews for a while. It took nearly 8 months after one time leaving college before I started getting interviews so I knew something wasn't right with the CV with a bit of help it has improved my chances of interviews since if its CV's they looking for but a lot of places are looking for people to fill out online applications and not want CV's unless they request it as part of the application. Then you have telephone interviews/aptitude tests/presentations thrown in the mix which makes it harder again to land a face to face interview. You might get one but there could be one or two more interviews to do after the first round for a certain job. Each candidate is different so its up to the employer to pick the most suited. Its an employers market. Not enough jobs for everyone only so few can get pass the interview stage, only one can get the job in the end of the day. You just need to stand out from the crowd. Have the 'star' method in mind when giving examples in interviews.

I'd suggest a job coach or professional job coach/career advisor I wouldn't go near FAS I found them useless. Most jobs are advertised online or through word of mouth. There is a hidden jobs market there alright but you need to network and know people as well. Sign up to the recruitment sites but be careful who you deal with some are dreadful and of no help. I think you do better yourself but they might be able to see where you need the help. Irishjobs.ie are good and if you are a recent graduate the college careers page be handy to look at. If at all possible apply to a jobbridge or a graduate internship/programme.

Best of luck

starlit

Roquentin wrote: »

i must have sent off about 50 cvs at this stage. Cant even get a jobbridge it is that bad. id say the ratio is 40:1 or thereabouts

I've found that too even with jobbridges. I've only been offered four interviews on jobbridges and only did one as I felt at the time was relevant but realised the job wasn't for me but I didn't get it anyway. The other interviews I tried to chase them down for a date but they couldn't be bothered to interview me. I've applied to about 11 relevant to the last course and applied to a couple of more jobbridges in the past with no luck. All the other jobs i've applied for have been grad programmes, contract or permanent full time and part time jobs relevant to the disciplines i've studied and some jobs similar.

NipNip

doovdela wrote: »

I've found that too even with jobbridges. I've only been offered four interviews on jobbridges and only did one as I felt at the time was relevant but realised the job wasn't for me but I didn't get it anyway. The other interviews I tried to chase them down for a date but they couldn't be bothered to interview me.

So many graduates with no experience and so many experienced candidates who cost too much. I actually went to a now deceased TD in relation to not qualifying for a Job-Bridge programme (in my absolute naivety) as I not been unemployed for the required 3 month period. My query was referred to Joan Burton and was probably interpreted as some sort of approval of the JobBridge/Slave Labour Scheme. I'm now back at square one as I held a temporary position for 2 months or so. Don't even qualify for Jobbridge now. And THE most depressing thing is looking at the net profits of some companies 'availing of' (or exploiting) the JobBridge scheme. If ever there was a thundering eejit of a job creation scheme, this is one!
Depressing I tellz yiz!

Tarzana

NipNip wrote: »

And if I see one more job advertisement beginning with those dreaded 6 words 'The intern will gain experience in........................'
AAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

You and me both, NipNip. :mad:

Wish you could filter them out of searches.

Tarzana

NipNip wrote: »

I don't know whether it's worse receiving a specific reply or receiving no reply whatsoever. I had a little whinge for myself yesterday evening after receiving two PFO letters (I'm a sensitive wee soul!). At least if you receive no response you can imagine scenarios where they are too ignorant to reply and you wouldn't want to work for them anyway if that's the case, or that they didn't bother reading your long thought out letter of application. But when they reply and tell you "We had a very large response to this advertisement and unfortunately we received a number of CVs which our client would consider more suited to their needs than your own." and then "Unfortunately you do not have the relevant experience required by the client for this position. I will keep your details on file should any other suitable vacancies arise. " within 5 minutes of each other, you start to question your sanity lol. BTW - I had the requested experience. Maybe I didn't 'sell myself' well enough. Ach, the pain in the ass of applying for jobs!

I got a really good non-vague PFO a few weeks ago that told me specifically why I had not been called for interview, no vagueness about other applicants being stronger. I appreciated it actually!

Roquentin

NipNip wrote: »

I don't know whether it's worse receiving a specific reply or receiving no reply whatsoever. I had a little whinge for myself yesterday evening after receiving two PFO letters (I'm a sensitive wee soul!). At least if you receive no response you can imagine scenarios where they are too ignorant to reply and you wouldn't want to work for them anyway if that's the case, or that they didn't bother reading your long thought out letter of application. But when they reply and tell you "We had a very large response to this advertisement and unfortunately we received a number of CVs which our client would consider more suited to their needs than your own." and then "Unfortunately you do not have the relevant experience required by the client for this position. I will keep your details on file should any other suitable vacancies arise. " within 5 minutes of each other, you start to question your sanity lol. BTW - I had the requested experience. Maybe I didn't 'sell myself' well enough. Ach, the pain in the ass of applying for jobs!

That is part of the problem. In psychological terms because it is an employers market, they will pick those who make the best impression. Its like you are going on a date or auditioning for x factor. Given the vast amount of people that are on offer, they will pick those who emotionally best affect them. Go over to canada and you would walk into a job because they are desperate and in short supply.

A while back i went for an interview. Answered the questions, was polite, well dressed. Didnt get the job. What more can i do.

Roquentin

doovdela wrote: »

For interviewers, the CV and Cover Letter is what they will see first. I went to college and back a few times and each time i've been more succesful wtih getting interviews compared to after my degree then the recession hit and it just made it harder to get interviews for a while. It took nearly 8 months after one time leaving college before I started getting interviews so I knew something wasn't right with the CV with a bit of help it has improved my chances of interviews since if its CV's they looking for but a lot of places are looking for people to fill out online applications and not want CV's unless they request it as part of the application. Then you have telephone interviews/aptitude tests/presentations thrown in the mix which makes it harder again to land a face to face interview. You might get one but there could be one or two more interviews to do after the first round for a certain job. Each candidate is different so its up to the employer to pick the most suited. Its an employers market. Not enough jobs for everyone only so few can get pass the interview stage, only one can get the job in the end of the day. You just need to stand out from the crowd. Have the 'star' method in mind when giving examples in interviews.

I'd suggest a job coach or professional job coach/career advisor I wouldn't go near FAS I found them useless. Most jobs are advertised online or through word of mouth. There is a hidden jobs market there alright but you need to network and know people as well. Sign up to the recruitment sites but be careful who you deal with some are dreadful and of no help. I think you do better yourself but they might be able to see where you need the help. Irishjobs.ie are good and if you are a recent graduate the college careers page be handy to look at. If at all possible apply to a jobbridge or a graduate internship/programme.

Best of luck

i agree with what you say. I will add, a lot of graduate positions are not based on merit or CV. The employers are looking for "can they work with you." Particularly in the professional environment or if you were working in a customer service position, social skills and interpersonal skills are vital. So a lot of these interviews are not are you educated. Of course they can see that from the CV. They want to know, can they communicate with you, are you decisive, are you well able to mingle within the work place and so on.

Roquentin

doovdela wrote: »

I've found that too even with jobbridges. I've only been offered four interviews on jobbridges and only did one as I felt at the time was relevant but realised the job wasn't for me but I didn't get it anyway. The other interviews I tried to chase them down for a date but they couldn't be bothered to interview me. I've applied to about 11 relevant to the last course and applied to a couple of more jobbridges in the past with no luck. All the other jobs i've applied for have been grad programmes, contract or permanent full time and part time jobs relevant to the disciplines i've studied and some jobs similar.

Id say you may have to move abroad. It is nothing to do with you as a person. There are simply far too many people and not enough jobs. The supply/demand ratio is severely imbalanced

mynamewasgone!

I found the same. Just finished a degree in financial maths, applied for a serious amount of jobs between Dublin and the UK. I got one email saying sorry blah blah and one interview. Not as much as an acknowledgement of receiving a CV off most other crowds. Starting a masters in a few weeks in Data Science and Analytics, hopefully will have more luck after this.

dani27

It's a total nightmare out there at the moment. It is so annoying.What's worse is people who say "something will show up stay positive" or "Any luck yet" every time they see you. I just feel so down and out. It's a joke. As I've said earlier I've done the government schemes and due to fiancial reasons *(in 3 different places) I wasn't kept on. ( One was a CE Scheme) I moved three times in the space of two years for work and theres nothing. I am so so so frustrated.

NipNip

Ye well, I'm not selling myself. I am selling my experience. This is the letter of application I sent in relation to 2 PA positions (the two rejection letters!)

Letter of Application – Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to apply for the position of Executive Assistant/Office Manager. I attach a copy of my CV for your consideration.

I have over 18 years’ administrative experience across a variety of industry sectors including the x, y and z sectors.

In terms of specific Office Management/Executive Assistance experience, I have most recently been xxxxxx r for 3 years for a xxxxxx based in xxxxx. My responsibilities here included Facilities and Office Management (responsibility for maintenance and repairs, opening the office, banking for the partners, oversight of utilities contracts, management of all office supplies, furniture & cleaning, maintenance of our filing system and implementation of improvements to office procedures, support to both partners, taking dictation, preparation of Legal Documentation, diary management and liaising with Clients, Barristers, Court Offices, Prisons and the Department of Justice.

While working with xxxxxxxx, I was promoted from Receptionist to a combined role of PA to the Head of xxxxxxx and to the Head of xxxxxx & Office Services & Facilities Assistant. During this time, xxxxx had undergone a merger and had consequently outgrown their current offices in xxxxxx. Therefore, there was a transitional phase whereby certain functions were relocated to a second office in xxxxxx before the entire company could relocate to new offices in xxxxxxxx.

My PA duties here included preparation of Board Papers, translation of documents from xxxxxxx to English, travel, expenses and diary management and full executive support to the two Heads of Departments for whom I was PA.

As I was the Office Services and Facilities Management Assistant for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, my duties included security pass issue, car-park allocation, meeting room management, desk allocation, reporting of maintenance issues & management of the air-conditioning system.

I also had full responsibility for the entire company’s contracts (over xxxxx employees) for Business Cards, Stationery Supply, Furniture Supply and our Taxi Service Contract (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). This involved negotiation of terms of contracts, periodic review of our suppliers and management of any issues arising with our contracted suppliers’ SLAs.

At present, I have just finished up in a temporary role I held with xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, where I was responsible for the preparation of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ahead of their xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. This involved familiarising myself with exxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I identified any missing documentation or information, paying particular attention to details such as revision dates, content of contracts, ensuring that all required signatures, initials and seals were in place and that all linked documentation complied with the terms of the relevant contract. I then followed up on receipt of missing documentation, rectified any issues noted, or clarified same with a File Note by way of explanation. This involved liaising with both external consultants such as xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and with our corresponding xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Department in Head Office, in order to bring our files to the desired standard - as per internal company procedures.

In terms of my professional profile, I am a diligent employee, I relish working under pressure and working to dead-lines, I am highly organised and I can efficiently manage my time and prioritise tasks. I am a good communicator and I pride myself on my professionalism. I have a strong customer service focus, be that in dealing with internal departments or with external bodies or clients. I can quickly adapt to new situations and enjoy working within a team environment. I am motivated by providing efficient, accurate and timely results and I am driven by exceeding expectations. I excel in roles where my organisational abilities, attention to detail, accuracy, efficiency and interpersonal skills form the basis of the competencies required.

I would be very grateful for the opportunity to further discuss my work experience and skills with your company, at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you and should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Roquentin

mynamewasgone! wrote: »

I found the same. Just finished a degree in financial maths, applied for a serious amount of jobs between Dublin and the UK. I got one email saying sorry blah blah and one interview. Not as much as an acknowledgement of receiving a CV off most other crowds. Starting a masters in a few weeks in Data Science and Analytics, hopefully will have more luck after this.

Id start applying for jobs around christmas during your masters. Its a psychological trick but employers tend to look favourably on those who are being active. So start sending of CVs in november for your masters and that you are prepared to start work straight after your final exam. Such is the environment, you will have to show that you are different

Roquentin

dani27 wrote: »

It's a total nightmare out there at the moment. It is so annoying.What's worse is people who say "something will show up stay positive" or "Any luck yet" every time they see you. I just feel so down and out. It's a joke. As I've said earlier I've done the government schemes and due to fiancial reasons *(in 3 different places) I wasn't kept on. ( One was a CE Scheme) I moved three times in the space of two years for work and theres nothing. I am so so so frustrated.

canada. you and a few friends. You will hop skip and jump into a job