Next step for friend?

Youredeadright

Can anyone help steer me in the right direction with career advice for a good friend? He's back in Cork from living abroad after his marriage went south and he's at a bit of a loss what to do with himself. He never finished college so doesn't have any formal qualifications and his 8 or 9 years abroad were in the bar trade including a few years as a bar manager. Bar work would have been the obvious choice but from talking to him I think he's burnt out from it as he's adamant he won't go down that road.

Obviously there's loads of other options but he's limited by a shoulder injury that would limit most heavy manual jobs and poor computer skills (word, excel, typing). On the plus side, he's got a professional approach to work-no slacking, quick at picking up new skills, and people find him very likeable.

I was thinking something like getting a forklift licence (for counterbalance and reach) or something along those lines to begin with as there seem to be jobs going in it and it wouldn't involve heavy lifting by him or computer skills.

What do you think? It wouldn't have to pay loads as he can stay at home until he finds his feet and gets a bit of savings under him.

TL;DR: What's a good job to do for a few years for a guy with no qualifications, poor computer skills?

Larbre34

I would have a look at roles with a customer care aspect to start him off - hotels, retail, call centres etc as experienced bar staff have usually seen it all and can handle people well. I understand your point about the forklift licence, but don't forget forklift operators will usually have a large amount of manual handling as part of their job as well and that may be not be possible for him.

Whatever he does, I couldn't recommend the Springboard programme highly enough - full and part time 3rd level qualis fully funded for those who are coming from an economically inactive status, Cork IT are among the providers. Well worth a look.

Pelvis

Barber.

mel123

Is going back to college an option for him? I know there maybe some courses offered from social welfare/springboard, and while it might not help short term, long term he would probably really benefit from it. Its a regret i have when i returned from abroad, i had the opportunity and didnt take it.

Youredeadright

mel123 wrote: »

Is going back to college an option for him? I know there maybe some courses offered from social welfare/springboard, and while it might not help short term, long term he would probably really benefit from it. Its a regret i have when i returned from abroad, i had the opportunity and didnt take it.

I think that's where he's at with it - realises there is an opportunity now to set himself up but isn't sure what direction to take it. It would be an option as his folks place is within driving distance of UCC/CIT/College of Com, I just think he isn't confident about what he wants to do and doesn't want to go the wrong way.

To be honest, now that I've written that I guess he should really see a career guidance specialist for a consultation.

Youredeadright

Larbre34 wrote: »

I would have a look at roles with a customer care aspect to start him off - hotels, retail, call centres etc as experienced bar staff have usually seen it all and can handle people well. I understand your point about the forklift licence, but don't forget forklift operators will usually have a large amount of manual handling as part of their job as well and that may be not be possible for him.

Whatever he does, I couldn't recommend the Springboard programme highly enough - full and part time 3rd level qualis fully funded for those who are coming from an economically inactive status, Cork IT are among the providers. Well worth a look.

really good advice- I've been abroad as long as he has so wouldn't be clued in on what support is here. I'll put him onto the Springboard programme.

Youredeadright

Pelvis wrote: »

Barber.

You know what- I can't imagine him doing it but it ticks the boxes in terms of good people skills, no heavy lifting etc. I'll throw it out there thanks.