Your job hunt story

WhiteWalls

I would consider myself to have good qualifications and a good CV. The job hunt however could not be going any worse. Not a sniff of an interview anywhere. Tried recruitment agencies lately too but to no avail. Recently i'v been inquiring with friends about possible vacancies in their companies and to be honest this is my last hope before immigration. I'v been searching since September.

What advice would people give me? Would also love to hear peoples stories about how they got employed and how long it took them

Mr. Loverman

Get someone to review your CV and some example cover letters you've used.

jos28

I've been lucky enough recently to get professional advice from some recruiters and HR consultants. Main points they consider essential:
Do not send a generic CV to everyone
Read the job spec and highlight the essential requirements
Make sure those points appear in your personal statement at the top of your CV
Recruiters apparently spend only 15 seconds looking at your CV
They will scan it quickly to see if you have the necessary things in the job spec and yours will not make it into the YES pile if you don't.
Make sure your Linkedin profile is up to date - make connections.
Look at companies you would like to work for and try to find connections.
It's amazing how many people you know who know people..... if that makes sense.
What areas of work are you looking at

InReality

First and most important IMO thing is about asking anyone you know if they know of jobs going. stats back this up. read "what color is your parachute".
After that CV and interview prep - get advice from a lot of people and then go with what you like.

MillField

Try get your CV reviewed by someone in the industry that you are looking for work. Make sure to write cover letters for any positions you are applying for and as mentioned don't make it generic for each application.

Jim2007

WhiteWalls wrote: »

Recently i'v been inquiring with friends about possible vacancies in their companies and to be honest this is my last hope before immigration. I'v been searching since September.

Well to start with you have not actually been looking for very long, for example here in Switzerland the unemployment rate is about 3%, but it still takes on average about 5 or 6 months for someone to land a new job. I don't have any figures for Ireland, but I'd imagine 2 months or there abouts is way under the average, so don't go into panic mode just yet.

[I'll ignore the stuff about resume writing etc... 'cause no doubt others will cover that if you have not already heard it before]

I'd also suggest you need to give us some information about the kind of work you are seeking and you educational background. Doing so might enable people to give you more specific advise that would enable you to get off the starting block.

The next thing to realise is that in the current circumstances, the traditional way of applying for jobs and waiting to hear back is not a great model. You need to network, build contact, let people know your situation, knock on doors and don't be afraid to ask for what you want. The more people you know and the more people know about your situation the more likely you are to hear about an opportunity.

As for foreign fields, I'd be very slow to recommend that option if the only reason for it was a job. Most people find it difficult to do at the best of times and if the only thing keeping you there is a job, then you will soon grow miserable - I've seen it happen to too many people.

red dave

I was 7 months looking for a job this year (March to Sept 2014), sent over 200 CV's to agencies and directly to companies. I got 3 interviews and 2 job offers. The first interview I had was close to the end of the 6th month.

red dave

red dave wrote: »

I was 7 months looking for a job this year (March to Sept 2014), sent over 200 CV's to agencies and directly to companies. I got 3 interviews and 2 job offers. The first interview I had was close to the end of the 6th month.

Really feeling the pinch here! No success what so ever

Jim2007

.....

Jim2007

Jim2007 wrote: »

On the third of this month you posted that you had just got a job.....

God, you're a nosy thing

Meant that i could relate to the OP.

Hope you get lucky soon, it can be tough out there.

Jim2007

Deleted User wrote: »

God, you're a nosy thing

Meant that i could relate to the OP.

Hope you get lucky soon, it can be tough out there.

Sorry my mistake on the dates...

cloudatlas

Looking since September. That's not long. I have made mixed progress over the last two years. The wider I throw my net the more useless my interviews have become. I think if you go for a job that you are overqualified for it's an uphill struggle in the interview to try and persuade a interviewer that you won't leave as soon as something else comes along.

My advice is to use recruitment websites and job websites that aren't specific to your career as well as the ones that are. I got one job by checking a general job site that probably a lot of people in my profession wouldn't be looking at.

I think the advice to apply for everything is not good if you have a bit more than entry level experience. Tailor your applications, get C.V. advice where possible. Some recruitment agencies help with this. Become an expert at searching in your specific area. Set up job alerts etc., Good luck.