Job hunt disaster !

realthbr

Having great crack after finishing college in May

1. State Street - Rejected Twice
2. EMC - Rejected
3. FRS Recruitment (Data/Business Analyst) - Rejected
4. Mazars - Audit Trainee Dublin‏ - Rejected
5. Software Test Consultant graduate position with SQS - Rejected
6. Webrecruit - Junior Quantitative Analyst – Graduate Opportunity - Rejected
7. Zutec Ltd (Enterprise Ireland G4IG) - No Reply
8. AIB - No Reply
9. Air Recruitment (Finance Analyst – Graduate) - No Reply
10. Graduate Fund Administrator – The Panel Recruitment - No Reply
11. Quest Fund Services - Junior Fund Accountant Dublin - No Reply
12. Saongroup - Graduate Data Analyst - No Reply
13. Sun Life – Jobsbridge - No Reply
14. Gilligan Black Recruitment - Business Graduate B2B Client Services - No Reply
15. TMF Management (Ireland) Limited - Trainee Accountant (Graduate) - No Reply
16. CROWLEY MCCARTHY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS – Graduate Accountant role - No Reply
17. IBM – Graduate program (finance) - No Reply
18. IRC – Graduat Finance role - No Reply
19. Job Bridge – Multimedia Assistant - No Reply
20. Capita PLC – Graduate scheme (Project Management) - Failed the Aptitude test (My bad)
21. Citi - “Program full” Continued to advertise

To be continued..........

sebcity

What's your qualification in?

realthbr

Economics & Finance, 2.1

gugleguy

would you do call centre work? e.g in billing / logistics.
do you have a second language like german?
are you on linked in

realthbr

No fluency in a second language. I have Basic Chinese Mandarin - not gonna help any company I know. I'd be willing though yes.

I'm on Linkedin, I'll PM you the link.

CINCLANTFLT

Sorry to ask this but where is your degree from?

Pingi

Do you have a job?


I finished my degree 3 years ago(business) and can say that nobody I have worked with at a graduate level was hired from the dole. We all came from other jobs call centres/retail/service/ farming jobs we were working after college.

realthbr

Pingi wrote: »

Do you have a job?


I finished my degree 3 years ago(business) and can say that nobody I have worked with at a graduate level was hired from the dole. We all came from other jobs call centres/retail/service/ farming jobs we were working after college.

Doing volunteer work Pingi

realthbr

CINCLANTFLT wrote: »

Sorry to ask this but where is your degree from?

Not a uni anyway, it's an Institute of Technology

CINCLANTFLT

realthbr wrote: »

Not a uni anyway, it's an Institute of Technology

Thanks... I take it that there was no work placement?

gordongekko

Look on the positive side at least you don't have to work for aib

realthbr

CINCLANTFLT wrote: »

Thanks... I take it that there was no work placement?

Yes there was. I decided to study abroad though. Starting to really regret that now. I had a good chat with lecturers and career advisers about it before I went and they all said companies see it as a good thing but I can tell u know they couldn't give a toss :P

realthbr

gordongekko wrote: »

Look on the positive side at least you don't have to work for aib

haha could be true I suppose.

dRNk SAnTA

You've applied for a couple of trainee accountant positions but considering there are dozens of firms, big and small, all requiring graduates each year, there are a lot more places to send your CV. Just check out the Institute of Chartered Accountants/ACCA/CPA/CIMA websites for some lists

Phantasos

Have you had anyone look over your CV to see if it looks okay?

Blingy

A lot of the places and applications you have listed state no reply. Why haven't you rang them asking for an update on the role. For example you sent in a cv to the panel recruitment agency and say you got no reply. Then ring them to discuss your application. You should probably have rang them first to discuss the role and then submitted your cv. Now maybe I am wrong and you have spoken to them but if not you should.
You need to start picking up the phone and talking to these people that advertise jobs. Even Aib will have someone dedicated to a role they advertise and should be able to tell you if it has been filled maybe even give feedback as to why you weren't considered.

Local_Chap

Phantasos wrote: »

Have you had anyone look over your CV to see if it looks okay?

I'd agree with this, you need to have your CV looked at. You then need to tailor it for each job. Your application forms must be leaving you down as well judging by the lack of interviews. When did you start applying for jobs OP?

realthbr

Blingy wrote: »

A lot of the places and applications you have listed state no reply. Why haven't you rang them asking for an update on the role. For example you sent in a cv to the panel recruitment agency and say you got no reply. Then ring them to discuss your application. You should probably have rang them first to discuss the role and then submitted your cv. Now maybe I am wrong and you have spoken to them but if not you should.
You need to start picking up the phone and talking to these people that advertise jobs. Even Aib will have someone dedicated to a role they advertise and should be able to tell you if it has been filled maybe even give feedback as to why you weren't considered.

Cheers Blingy, I haven't done it in all cases admittedly. I was going through the process with a few companies; round 1,2, etc; assessment days; online video interviews, face to face and so on. So, I felt I was going to be hired on a few occasions and lost track at times. I'll have to do more of what you said.

jobbridge4life

For the rejecteds was that interview stage?

Gandalph

Yeh I've a list about double the size of that in the last month for similar companies, it's so tedious filling out graduate opportunity apps at this stage. I applied to some around January as well and I only heard back from 2-3 of them 5-6 months after my initial application, not cool.

CINCLANTFLT

realthbr wrote: »

Yes there was. I decided to study abroad though. Starting to really regret that now. I had a good chat with lecturers and career advisers about it before I went and they all said companies see it as a good thing but I can tell u know they couldn't give a toss :P

Yeah... I'm afraid so... It is a case of chicken and egg...you need your first job to get your first job... Also - right or wrong - lots of firms prefer grads from unis... However you are where you are...

First question... What kind of job are you specifically looking for... I was a comp sci Grad but I was looking for datacomms work... Now I look for risk and Compliance work...

doc11

For a graduate there's isn't much tailoring each CV to job, I'd say it would be more about the cover letter but that's just me. The OP seems to have about of recruitment companies but as someone pointed out already for accounting and fund roles there are far more companies that you can apply to directly, GAM etc seem to be constantly advertising on irishjobs. Regards contacting companies about your application I'd be of the opinion if they want to interview you they will and no amount of calling regarding applications is somehow going to change their mind.

realthbr

Local_Chap wrote: »

I'd agree with this, you need to have your CV looked at. You then need to tailor it for each job. Your application forms must be leaving you down as well judging by the lack of interviews. When did you start applying for jobs OP?

Since May. The CV was done with the careers officer and I brought it to the CV workshop at the gradIreland fair too. One recruiter told me it was one of the best CV's she picked up because it was so easy to read. That was in July and I made a few adjustments here and there to tailor it as best I could. Thanks for your advise. I'll need to start thinking harder about tailoring it like you said.

realthbr

jobbridge4life wrote: »

For the rejecteds was that interview stage?

1. State Street - Rejected Twice ---> First time was just email, second after face to face
2. EMC - Rejected --> Assessment day; got to the final 12 out of over 700
3. FRS Recruitment (Data/Business Analyst) - Rejected --> read my CV and emailed me
4. Mazars - Audit Trainee Dublin‏ - Rejected --> reviewed my CV and emailed me
5. Software Test Consultant graduate position with SQS - Rejected --> emailed after application
6. Webrecruit - Junior Quantitative Analyst – Graduate Opportunity - Rejected. emailed after application

jobbridge4life

realthbr wrote: »

1. State Street - Rejected Twice ---> First time was just email, second after face to face
2. EMC - Rejected --> Assessment day; got to the final 12 out of over 700
3. FRS Recruitment (Data/Business Analyst) - Rejected --> read my CV and emailed me
4. Mazars - Audit Trainee Dublin‏ - Rejected --> reviewed my CV and emailed me
5. Software Test Consultant graduate position with SQS - Rejected --> emailed after application
6. Webrecruit - Junior Quantitative Analyst – Graduate Opportunity - Rejected. emailed after application

I'd imagine you need more experience in the field of you want a job in. Have you considered jobbridge?

Local_Chap

jobbridge4life wrote: »

I'd imagine you need more experience in the field of you want a job in. Have you considered jobbridge?

Apt username!

I'm presuming these are mostly graduate positions so experience shouldn't be too much of an issue.

realthbr

CINCLANTFLT wrote: »

Yeah... I'm afraid so... It is a case of chicken and egg...you need your first job to get your first job... Also - right or wrong - lots of firms prefer grads from unis... However you are where you are...

First question... What kind of job are you specifically looking for... I was a comp sci Grad but I was looking for datacomms work... Now I look for risk and Compliance work...

I was trying hard with state street as I was interested in funds etc, and I have applied for other similar roles through recruitment agencies.

Then I was looking at accountancy and doing ACCA

Graduate programs with finance

Started looking at Business Analyst roles as I'm doing an SQL course now

I'm kind of lost tbh ! haha

realthbr

jobbridge4life wrote: »

I'd imagine you need more experience in the field of you want a job in. Have you considered jobbridge?

Applied for 2 only with no luck. I'm just gonna have to focus more on them now, hopefully I'll get something soon.

Beaner1

What's your leaving cert like? Business or data analyst jobs would typically go to people with a few years experience in some sort of financial role or maybe straight out of a relevant PhD.

spillit67

FYI if you are seriously looking at Accountancy the Milkrounds are underway right now. They are usually for the year ahead i.e. Big 10 firms would be recruiting for September 2015 onwards, but many will have open slots earlier and even in the next couple of months with people failing exams and dropouts, if you let them know you are available. If you are serious about it then but on your application that you have started ACA/ACCA, it will let them know you are serious about getting into it.

Bear in mind though that Accountancy is a serious, 42 month, trainees slog. The exams are tough and after a couple of years you will be sick of them and very likely sick of the mediocre pay for hard work. If you get an interview they look for that "enthusiasm" to stay at it (with the benefits you get at the end of it). From the info you've provided it seems you aren't really sure what you want. No bad thing feigning interest if you just want to start an office job for some good quality experience (which accountancy is), but in the applications process you have to show an awareness of what you are getting into!

CINCLANTFLT

realthbr wrote: »

I was trying hard with state street as I was interested in funds etc, and I have applied for other similar roles through recruitment agencies.

Then I was looking at accountancy and doing ACCA

Graduate programs with finance

Started looking at Business Analyst roles as I'm doing an SQL course now

I'm kind of lost tbh ! haha

Okay...I agree with funds etc. I would agree with the follow up calls etc. Most jobs I have gotten have been from getting to know people in advance of the interview etc.

Pingi

My advice is to get any job you can and keep applying for grad jobs. From my experience friends who only looked for grad jobs took a lot longer to find a grad job than those (myself included) who took anything and kept applying. Also I don't know of anybody in my company who was hired in a grad role who didn't already have a job at the time of hiring (most min wage type)

jobbridge4life

Pingi wrote: »

My advice is to get any job you can and keep applying for grad jobs. From my experience friends who only looked for grad jobs took a lot longer to find a grad job than those (myself included) who took anything and kept applying. Also I don't know of anybody in my company who was hired in a grad role who didn't already have a job at the time of hiring (most min wage type)

I disagree. If you want work in a specific field, you are better, in my experience, to get work experience in the field you want.

JobBridge, for all its myriad flaws, is one such way to do so. Despite my pessimistic moniker it worked for me.

slimshady14

There are so many graduates every year and not enough roles for those graduates.
If you can't find work start with administration roles and then call centre roles and just try to get something. 6 months in a call centre is a lot better on a C.V than sitting on the dole for six months, or else try and get a springboard in something related to your degree.

My route after college and friends in similar situations.

Graduated with a 2.1 in I.T
Looked for jobs for six months, Had a few interviews and none worked out.
Started applying for administration roles. Got a job and stuck with it for six months and then applied for an administration role with a top I.T company in Ireland. Got the job.
After three months in the administration role I excelled and they moved me into an I.T team(Was never so happy!). Excelled and got certifications. Got promoted again and now on a very decent salary.

red_bairn

Apply to Realex with a general application, go through Integration and Support (pass the exams as soon as you can) then apply to a BA job asap.

realthbr

So many tips and advice already lads. Just want to thank everyone for their help. I'm sure you all know how it feels to be out in the wilderness looking for a job, and it can be disheartening at times. Tomorrow should be a very productive day going on all the things that have been posted here already

jobbridge4life

realthbr wrote: »

So many tips and advice already lads. Just want to thank everyone for their help. I'm sure you all know how it feels to be out in the wilderness looking for a job, and it can be disheartening at times. Tomorrow should be a very productive day going on all the things that have been posted here already

It can be hell. It really can be as you probably know. I was unemployed for 11 months and 4 days, then on my JobBridge for a few months. It almost killed me.

mitresize5

Hi,

I've recruited 4 software developers in the last 12 months , 2 grads and two experienced so have looked at 100's of cv's and did about 20 interviews in this time.

Some advice in no particular order

- do a good cover letter explaining why you want to work for the company you are applying to. Make it specific to that company and what you can bring. A cover letter should be 3 or 4 paragraphs long, not 1 explaining where you saw their ad. It will show you are serious about position and that you havent just done a copy and paste job

- make sure you cv is professionally done, get advice on this, there is nothing worse for a recruiter than looking at a sloppy cv. You have about 30 seconds before I decide whether you go to maybe pile or the thanks but no thanks pile

- make sure you are well prepared, confident and professional in interviews. If you can at all arrange dummy interviews, get professional advice.

- 9 times out of 10 if two candidates are are equal and one is working and the other isnt I will go for the one that is working. I got a 2.1 in computer systems but ending up doing 12 months in call centre support (which I absolutely hated). It was a way in the door of the industry and something on the cv. If you are good enough you will rise up the career ladder. Think of your career in the medium to long term, its a long life

- when you finally get a job dont be afraid to move every 2 or 3 years for the first 10 years. This is how you increase your responsibilities and pay packet.

good luck with your search

p.s. You cant just walk into a BA role - you need a lot of relevant experience in the industry your working in (supply chain, finance etc...) and a very strong technical background

cloudatlas

slimshady14 wrote: »

My route after college and friends in similar situations.

Graduated with a 2.1 in I.T
Looked for jobs for six months, Had a few interviews and none worked out.
Started applying for administration roles. Got a job and stuck with it for six months and then applied for an administration role with a top I.T company in Ireland. Got the job.
After three months in the administration role I excelled and they moved me into an I.T team(Was never so happy!). Excelled and got certifications. Got promoted again and now on a very decent salary.

What year did you graduate? It makes all the difference.

slimshady14

cloudatlas wrote: »

What year did you graduate? It makes all the difference.

2011 I graduated.

Its hard for graduates to get their foot in the door but once they are in they will be fine!

Also apply for roles that are not graduate specific is another thing to do but I presume OP has been doing this allready.

doc11

bigdata wrote: »

What is your knowledge of Options Theory (European, Asian, Greek), Conditional Expectation and Martingales, Probability Theory, Statistics (SPSS), Black-Scholes equation and its derivatives, Mathematical Economics (Consumer Choice, Commodity Space, Demand Theory, Utility Maximization)? Knowing this stuff one may impress during the interview.

If you may consider continuing education, go for PhD, but this will take minimum 3 years.

OK, which of the graduate roles would this be required? All Business/Finance graduates would have covered these topics and more but to remember Mathematical economics, Probability theory or even be asked about it at interview would be shocking. Even if you guided a discussion to these topics most managers/HR wouldn't understand and hence care. Talk of a PHD for a man/woman looking for a grad type job is silly.

Gandalph

bigdata wrote: »

What is your knowledge of Options Theory (European, Asian, Greek), Conditional Expectation and Martingales, Probability Theory, Statistics (SPSS), Black-Scholes equation and its derivatives, Mathematical Economics (Consumer Choice, Commodity Space, Demand Theory, Utility Maximization)? Knowing this stuff one may impress during the interview.

SQL is cool but quite easy to learn - all you need to know are SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, JOIN (INNER, LEFT, OUTER, CROSS), transactions, normal forms (to remove repetency in data). Recommended book for theory is by Date - Introduction to Database Systems. At the interview they often ask: what is the difference between INNER and LEFT JOIN and how many normal forms do you know (there are 3 of them, see that book).

Otherwise learn some ETL, Business Process etc.

If you may consider continuing education, go for PhD, but this will take minimum 3 years.

I'm hoping you posted this in the wrong thread. Don't think the OP has stated anywhere that he is looking to be an aspiring trader.

SBWife

You've only applied to 21 roles since last May, that's one a week from the end of May until last week. I wouldn't exactly describe that as a huge effort.

TheJackAttack

Best of luck brother - hope it works out for you!

realthbr

SBWife wrote: »

You've only applied to 21 roles since last May, that's one a week from the end of May until last week. I wouldn't exactly describe that as a huge effort.

Yea, fair enough when u put it like that. I guess I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. I have a 2nd round interview next week so fingers crossed.