Brutally honest cover letter

fizzlepurplefuz

Just want to get peoples opinions on this....
Bit of background first....

My dad has been unemployed for 5 years, he's still only in his mid 50's which I would consider still young enough and plenty of years left in him.

Work is all he knows and its horrible to see him go day to day with nothing to do, all he wants to do it work.

He's not very tech savvy at all, he can barely use a computer to look for jobs and I do all the sending out emails and uploading CV's for him.
Over the last number of years I'd say we've sent out over 100 CV's but to no avail

It's getting to the stage now where I just want to write on the cover letter "please give my dad a job" because i know it would give him meaning and a purpose to get up in the morning.

I'm applying for a job for him there now and there is a cover letter that needs to go along with it and I'm just wondering, at this point could I be honest? not like in begging but should I just lay it out there and tell them what's what?

MarkAnthony

It's more likely to put someone off but you might get someone having a good day that gives him an interview. You're jumping the gun a bit by asking for the job, interview first.

Very best of luck with it!

PS No option to do a FAS course or similar on using the PC? Most employers would need some sort of computer knowledge.

fizzlepurplefuz

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It's more likely to put someone off but you might get someone having a good day that gives him an interview. You're jumping the gun a bit by asking for the job, interview first.

Very best of luck with it!

PS No option to do a FAS course or similar on using the PC? Most employers would need some sort of computer knowledge.

It's just that its incredibly frustrating to see ya know, i just want to shout "please give him a job." He's losing hope that he'll ever get one at this stage

Nah he doesn't want to do a course in anything computer related (he hates them) he's really old school like, even though he's still young enough.
To be honest i gave up suggesting stuff to do.
I've suggested a few things like getting involved in tidy towns (as he loves gardening) going to mens sheds or just volunteering in general, just to get himself out of the house more and socialize with people, but goes in one ear and out the other, i will still do my very best to him anyway i can

TheBody

What sort of work is he looking for? Has he any qualifications?

fizzlepurplefuz

TheBody wrote: »

What sort of work is he looking for? Has he any qualifications?

He's looking for work as a warehouse operative/furniture removals/driver that sort of thing. He's worked in warehouses all his life.
He doesn't have any qualifications unfortunately, got his junior (inter) cert and then went off to work....

Rackstar

5 years. That's terrible. I hope he gets something. Is there no back to work schemes or anything?

druidhill

fizzlepurplefuz wrote: »

...
all he wants to do it work.
...

Your follow up comments conflict with this one and he needs to be more flexible / open to change. If he cannot get work, he has to do more to increase his chances of eventually getting work.
You may see that as harsh but brutally honest cuts both ways.

Has he been into the DSP and asked about what options are available to him?

fizzlepurplefuz

druidhill wrote: »

Your follow up comments conflict with this one and he needs to be more flexible / open to change. If he cannot get work, he has to do more to increase his chances of eventually getting work.
You may see that as harsh but brutally honest cuts both ways.

Has he been into the DSP and asked about what options are available to him?

Oh I completely agree with you, he does need to be more flexible, absolutely and i have mentioned this to him before, i understand that he's not helping himself at all

I remember him mentioning, i think it was called Tus or something? A friend of his was called up by DSP to do the scheme and he went to inquire about it but was told he had to be called, now I'm not 100% if that's the correct scheme. Other than that i haven't heard of any other schemes (other than JobBridge) i wouldn't be all that familiar myself.

Steve

Is his age on his CV?

If so, remove it and see what happens.

Mrs OBumble

Steve wrote: »

Is his age on his CV?

If so, remove it and see what happens.

Indeed. You can also drop off the first 10 or so years of work experience. Just leave off those jobs, and the year he did junior cert.

But I warn you, without computer skills, or at least the will to learn some, then he's unlikely to survive thru probation in many warehouse jobs.

After 5 years, I'm very surprised that DSP haven't been chasing him to do a course of some sort.

A line that you might like to use sometime is to remind him that he's still got a quarter of his working life ahead of him. Some people think 50 is old, bu really it's not.

And something else to keep in mind is that many jobs come from networing, rather than formal applications. Who does he know who might help him get in somewhere?

fizzlepurplefuz

Steve wrote: »

Is his age on his CV?

If so, remove it and see what happens.

Thanks for the suggestion Steve
I deliberately removed it from his CV years ago because i didn't want the possibility of him being overlooked because of his age

fizzlepurplefuz

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Indeed. You can also drop off the first 10 or so years of work experience. Just leave off those jobs, and the year he did junior cert.

But I warn you, without computer skills, or at least the will to learn some, then he's unlikely to survive thru probation in many warehouse jobs.

After 5 years, I'm very surprised that DSP haven't been chasing him to do a course of some sort.

A line that you might like to use sometime is to remind him that he's still got a quarter of his working life ahead of him. Some people think 50 is old, bu really it's not.

And something else to keep in mind is that many jobs come from networing, rather than formal applications. Who does he know who might help him get in somewhere?

Thanks for the advice Mrs OBumble, I agree he has many years left in him to work, I must try approach the subject again of taking a course and stressing the importance of it

Yeah he knows loads of people, people that he would have worked with in the past etc, no available jobs, he has even taken to asking the binmen and delivery drivers that come to the house if there are any jobs going

I will mention it again and see, i don't like to force the issue or feel pushy but something has to change ....

I really appreciate all the help and advice you and everyone has given me so far

MouseTail

fizzlepurplefuz wrote: »

I remember him mentioning, i think it was called Tus or something? A friend of his was called up by DSP to do the scheme and he went to inquire about it but was told he had to be called, now I'm not 100% if that's the correct scheme. Other than that i haven't heard of any other schemes (other than JobBridge) i wouldn't be all that familiar myself.

A CE (Community Employment) scheme may suit him.

Livefornow

The Tus scheme is for sports clubs where the participant on the scheme gets an amount extra on their dole (€30-€50 I believe) in return for 19hrs work in groundskeeping maintenance etc. Doesn't suit everyone but if he likes gardening then looking after playing fields could be right up his street.
He could ask local GAA/Soccer/Rugby clubs if they participate in this scheme. What area is he in?

Divisadero

Re Tus that info is incorrect. It is only an extra €20 a week and is not limited to sports clubs but is a community type scheme. You commit to at least a year and there are certain categories (types of work) you can request. However if they have nothing in your chosen area they can basically have you do anything covered under the scheme. So you could be placed in something unsuitable. Just make sure you and your father do your homework before opting for this. I can't seem to put up a link but Google Tus and check the Citizens Information website and also the DSP's own website. Also search on here. I think it is something along with the Gateway Scheme (placements with Local Authorities) where certain members of the long term unemployed are being 'encouraged' (under threat of having unemployment payments cut) to do to massage the unemployment figures.

I'm not advising against it if you think it will help motivate or interest your father but do your homework first!

Also you mentioned driving. Might that be something he could look into further without the need for computer skills? There might even be courses available via DSP/Intreo that might help if he can't find anything directly.

seamus

You guys may be way ahead, but I would also suggest that he uses any time not looking for work, volunteering. Especially if he can volunteer at things he's interested in. Interested in GAA? Offer to help out with janitorial or even coaching work with the local club. Interested in hiking or camping? Join a local hiking or scouting association. Animals? Help out at a local shelter. Etc, etc.

Aside from keeping him busy and getting his head back into a positive place, volunteer work will also build skills (he will have to get his head around computers...!) and contacts. Lots of people land work out of volunteering, either through the contacts they make or because the organisation themselves hire their volunteers on full or part-time. Displaying to people that you're a solid worker with a good head on your shoulders is worth a thousand cover letters and CVs.

Anomic

you can self refer to Tús now, and can leave anytime if you get a job.

I'm currently doing one, well worth imo. You do pay PRSI ,but no USC charge.

Good luck

Greenmachine

100 jobs in 5 years in nothing. He should be applying for closer to 100 jobs a month.

Streetwalker

Greenmachine wrote: »

100 jobs in 5 years in nothing. He should be applying for closer to 100 jobs a month.

There is always one.

Greenmachine

Streetwalker wrote: »

There is always one.

I am just being honest.

Bandana boy

For warehousing you need to get onto one of the agencies

There is lots of casual Summer work through agencies with the big warehouses ,and the good guys get kept on when a full time vacancy becomes available , there is next to no direct recruitment in the big warehouses anymore.
Computer skills not really needed for these roles but flexible on hours (both starting time and qty is required )

Warehousing though is a young man’s game you will find the majority of guys tend to be <30 and pace/speed is a big measurement of performance

FISMA.

fizzlepurplefuz wrote: »

It's getting to the stage now where I just want to write on the cover letter "please give my dad a job" because i know it would give him meaning and a purpose to get up in the morning.

I would not go that far.

fizzlepurplefuz wrote: »

Over the last number of years I'd say we've sent out over 100 CV's but to no avail

Is that all you have done? Just send out letters? How have you followed up? Personally, I would go there with the letter, talk to some people, ask for a walk around the place.

I see letters as an almost 100% waste of time. Definitely go the route of some form of personal contact. Hopefully, they will take a liking to your Dad and maybe have some help or a suggestion for something else.

It is easier to take a liking to a someone in person than a piece of paper.

fizzlepurplefuz

Divisadero wrote: »

Re Tus that info is incorrect. It is only an extra €20 a week and is not limited to sports clubs but is a community type scheme. You commit to at least a year and there are certain categories (types of work) you can request. However if they have nothing in your chosen area they can basically have you do anything covered under the scheme. So you could be placed in something unsuitable. Just make sure you and your father do your homework before opting for this. I can't seem to put up a link but Google Tus and check the Citizens Information website and also the DSP's own website. Also search on here. I think it is something along with the Gateway Scheme (placements with Local Authorities) where certain members of the long term unemployed are being 'encouraged' (under threat of having unemployment payments cut) to do to massage the unemployment figures.

I'm not advising against it if you think it will help motivate or interest your father but do your homework first!

Also you mentioned driving. Might that be something he could look into further without the need for computer skills? There might even be courses available via DSP/Intreo that might help if he can't find anything directly.

Thanks for the info Divisadero, I will add this to the list and look over it all

fizzlepurplefuz

Anomic wrote: »

you can self refer to Tús now, and can leave anytime if you get a job.

I'm currently doing one, well worth imo. You do pay PRSI ,but no USC charge.

Good luck

Thanks Anomic, hope the scheme is going well for you

L1m1tless

He might be eligible for jobsplus. It entitles the new employer up to 10k I think towards hiring someone who is eligible. Might make him stand out a bit among the others.

Greenmachine

Neo_Ninja wrote: »

He might be eligible for jobsplus. It entitles the new employer up to 10k I think towards hiring someone who is eligible. Might make him stand out a bit among the others.

Biggest issue with JobPlus is you need an interview before you can pitch it to the employer.

Bigus

Call into a few builders providers, building suppliers, plumbers supplies , they're flat out now after years of lay offs.

L1m1tless

Greenmachine wrote: »

Biggest issue with JobPlus is you need an interview before you can pitch it to the employer.

Can't he just write it on his cover letter that he has jobsplus?

Divisadero

Neo_Ninja wrote: »

Can't he just write it on his cover letter that he has jobsplus?

Yes. He can write it on his cover letter and/or CV. I think he can also pre-register online for the scheme so he is ready to roll. Check out the Jobs Plus website or contact DSP/Intreo. If he is hired the employer can have €10,000 of his salary paid in installments. Also if he or any of your family members or friends have any contacts they could put the word out too. You could try to turn the tables and use his age and experience plus a €10,000 sign on bonus to his advantage!

tricky D

FISMA. wrote: »

Is that all you have done? Just send out letters? How have you followed up? Personally, I would go there with the letter, talk to some people, ask for a walk around the place.

I see letters as an almost 100% waste of time. Definitely go the route of some form of personal contact. Hopefully, they will take a liking to your Dad and maybe have some help or a suggestion for something else.

It is easier to take a liking to a someone in person than a piece of paper.

This is great advice though I wouldn't quite agree on letters almost being a waste of time. Most people think that you just send off a letter and CV and wait and that's it. It's easy for an employer to bin a CV but if there's personal contact it's a different ball game as most people naturally tend to try to help. So it is this kind of personal contact and networking which are the most effective techniques when job hunting. (Best jobs I ever got came about via these channels with no interview apart from an odd quick canteen coffee chat) Make sure you research the company. Then before you send anything, ring and ask for a HR person's or equivalent role's name and stick that in the letter and send in with CV. You might also be able to get some more info but do not be pushy. Then ring them up again a few days after sending the stuff in and get as much feedback as you can. Applicants tend to be nervous about this, but there's nothing to lose.


Some DSP regions also have Jobs Clubs for 2 weeks and are worth doing so I'm told.

owen85

would he consider working as a carer? theres plenty of jobs for home carers, pay is around 10 or 11 per hour from what i remember.
there is a qualification required fetac level 5 or something like that, it costs a bit of money but there are companies (hiring carers) who will pay for the training required, they will tell you you can pay for it yourself or if they pay they will deduct the amount from your payslip over a certain amount of months.
the training and exam is really basic apparently and shouldnt cause any stress.

there are plenty of jobs advertised for carers.
my uncle was in a similar situation to your dad, he ended getting a job as a carer and seems to be doing grand.