Cant get employment!!

Saffa1978

Hi everyone

I'm gonna try and keep this short and hopefully not bore you with all the details...

I recently returned to ireland after being away for four years. I am south african and have full right to work in ireland, since I'm a irish national.

I went home to south africa to start my own business, but unfortunately with the down turn and crisis in the economy, I had to close the business and return to my second home. I've been back for over a month and I'm finding it extremely hard to find work.

Having only a leaving cert and no qualifications, I'm starting to wonder if thats the reason? or with my previous employer I worked 12.5 years for. The manager and I didnt really see eye to eye so I'm not too sure what they saying when anyone calls for a reference. I left the company on good terms and handed them enough notice before I left.

I applied for many positions, including general assistants/ waiting, anything to get my foot in the door, since I have extensive experience working in retail and hospitality sector.

Feedback would greatly be appreciated. Im starting to lose hope and my finances are starting to run dry....

Saffa1978

sugarman wrote: »

Why would you give a reference of someone you didn't really get on with, and by the sounds of it don't stay in regular contact with? That's a big no, no.

Either leave them out, or get in contact with them and make sure they're giving a decent one.

Also, is there any gaps in your CV? As in periods of work or education unaccounted for, or when you returned home etc?

...out of curiosity, what do you have as your work in SA on your CV as? I wouldn't normally advise it, but there's room for white lies there to boost 'experience'.

I bought into a franchise with my family.

I have no reason to lie about my experience and being a franchisee for a store that unfortunately fell on hard times when the recession started. I have contactable references on my cv to prove I was a store owner and its not from family members.

Yes I left in august 2013 to travel europe for 2 months and went home to start looking for a business with my family, plus I was busy getting my drivers license which took me 3 months to get. So there is a 5 month gap in between, I closed the business in Feb 2017 and I couldnt find work in south africa due to the unemployment rate standing at a staggering rate of 30% at the moment.

One of the managers of my previous employer here in ireland is not working for this company anymore, only the HR manager that worked with me is still presently working for them.

the_syco

Saffa1978 wrote: »

I am south african and have full right to work in ireland, since I'm a irish national.

Ensure, at the top, you state name, address, and nationality. Do you need the nationality? Not usually, but in your case it won't be of any harm. It'll also mean that you don't need a work permit.

Actually, if anyone asks your nationality in your job, just say that you're Irish. Don't mention that you came from SA unless they ask directly. You don't want to confuse them.

Saffa1978 wrote: »

I recently returned to ireland after being away for four years.

Saffa1978 wrote: »

I have contactable references on my cv to prove I was a store owner and its not from family members.

Reach out to them, as after four years the references may have forgotten you. Four years is a long time, and I'd say this is your main obstacle. Also, have a Irish sounding friend ring the references, to see what they say about you; you may need to cull a bad reference.

Saffa1978 wrote: »

Having only a leaving cert and no qualifications

Saffa1978 wrote: »

I have extensive experience working in retail and hospitality sector.

Do a FAS course in business or hospitality, do get a (recent) cert to go along with your experience. Some FAS courses will pay your dole whilst you goto the FAS course.

TonyStark

Saffa1978 wrote: »

I bought into a franchise with my family.

I have no reason to lie about my experience and being a franchisee for a store that unfortunately fell on hard times when the recession started. I have contactable references on my cv to prove I was a store owner and its not from family members.

Yes I left in august 2013 to travel europe for 2 months and went home to start looking for a business with my family, plus I was busy getting my drivers license which took me 3 months to get. So there is a 5 month gap in between, I closed the business in Feb 2017 and I couldnt find work in south africa due to the unemployment rate standing at a staggering rate of 30% at the moment.

One of the managers of my previous employer here in ireland is not working for this company anymore, only the HR manager that worked with me is still presently working for them.

You need to be very clear with your work history and explain gaps with good and genuine reasons. No one begrudges someone taking time off to travel/bum around.

You didn't find work in SA because of 30% unemployment rate? I am baffled by this remark.Essentially, what you have done is set about cognitive bias that makes me question everything that you are saying. For instance I was about to forgive you saying that you took 3 months off to get your driving license. But after that remark I now suspect you (rightly or wrongly) of adding this in to "fill in the gaps" artificially. I got my own driving license over a 6 month period from first lesson to test and passing first time and it makes me skeptical of such a statement. #justsaying

Qualifications are not the be all and end all but your description of your CV and the way your telling your story comes across incoherent. I am sorry.

I think start from the ground up and build your CV up in a straight forward and coherent fashion. Focus on your accomplishments and achievements and desire for progression in your previous jobs - make it easy for people to trust you and give you a job. When you review your CV look at it is an advertisement that shows quite clearly that you will be of value to any prospective employer.