Left after getting decent Junior Cert results; haven’t had a proper job since.

unemployedpleb

For the record, I left after the Junior Cert because I had a job freelancing as web designer which brought in a decent amount of cash for the time that it went on for. I also got decent marks in the exams too, all Cs and above with Maths honour being a B and English honour being a Distinction.

I “dropped out” after the Junior Cert on the 20th on June and started to drop in CVs to places like Centra, Dunnes, small shops that were hiring, places like that. Centra in my village are always having new people from the school I went to in there so I thought I had a chance; dropped one in and didn’t hear anything back. I tried Mallow’s; same story. So far, I’ve had 0 interviews and 0 acknowledgements that I even exist from employers.

I thought about going back to school, so I enquired back to my secondary school and they said that they wouldn’t be able to take me back on until the start of the new term, in August. That was over 10 months away at the time so I didn’t bother and still won’t. Youthreach don’t have anything for me that I find useful for my career and FAS shut down. Can’t sign on, so I’m left with no money for myself. Thankfully have dinner at night and a roof over my head so I’m not unlucky at all.

Apart from moving back to England where my qualifications mean something, does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do? The bordem is real and quite **** honestly.

Cheers.

amcalester

Have you tried McDonalds?

I wouldn’t have thought a few C’s and B’s in the junior cert would mean much in England.

Cheshire Cat

Try volunteering and gaining some additional skills.

Staplor

unemployedpleb wrote: »

For the record, I left after the Junior Cert because I had a job freelancing as web designer which brought in a decent amount of cash for the time that it went on for. I also got decent marks in the exams too, all Cs and above with Maths honour being a B and English honour being a Distinction.

I “dropped out” after the Junior Cert on the 20th on June and started to drop in CVs to places like Centra, Dunnes, small shops that were hiring, places like that. Centra in my village are always having new people from the school I went to in there so I thought I had a chance; dropped one in and didn’t hear anything back. I tried Mallow’s; same story. So far, I’ve had 0 interviews and 0 acknowledgements that I even exist from employers.

I thought about going back to school, so I enquired back to my secondary school and they said that they wouldn’t be able to take me back on until the start of the new term, in August. That was over 10 months away at the time so I didn’t bother and still won’t. Youthreach don’t have anything for me that I find useful for my career and FAS shut down. Can’t sign on, so I’m left with no money for myself. Thankfully have dinner at night and a roof over my head so I’m not unlucky at all.

Apart from moving back to England where my qualifications mean something, does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do? The bordem is real and quite **** honestly.

Cheers.

So what qualifications do you have in England?

unemployedpleb

amcalester wrote: »

Have you tried McDonalds?

I wouldn’t have thought a few C’s and B’s in the junior cert would mean much in England.

Aren't hiring near where I am, popped in and they said that it's all done online so been scoping it out for a while and nothing's popped up. Nearest one is Limerick which is a 2 hour drive daily there and back.

Surprisingly it does, above average for the area where I used to live years ago.

Tom Dunne

Staplor wrote: »

So what qualifications do you have in England?

I'm going to guess:

Entry 3 Skills for working Life
Level 1 Animal Care
Level 2 Animal Care
Level 2 Travel & Tourism
Level 3 90 Credit Travel & Tourism
Level 3 Extended Travel & Torusim

looksee

The bald, bad news is that Junior Cert isn't worth much at all. Lots of people get decent results then get a bit of a shock if they ease off for Leaving Cert. Even LC is not a guarantee of a job, even in supermarkets etc, as you say, with only JC you hardly exist. They see it more as evidence that you don't have any staying power rather than a comment on your intelligence.

Even though it is some months away you should look at going back to do LC and then preferably a college course. You could also look at colleges of further education that offer courses for people in your situation, though even there they are beginning to prefer LC (which I think is wrong but I am not running them).

You are obviously literate and intelligent from your post (sorry if that sounds patronising) and it seems like a waste that you have not followed through with your basic education.

looksee

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I'm going to guess:

snip

Logic and civility have certainly died.

colm_mcm

Go back to school in September. You’re only a year behind, no big deal.

OMM 0000

I really don't think this is real, but let's assume it is.

1. You must go back to school and get your leaving cert.

2. Go to college.

You have no idea how easier life is when you have a degree.

Especially in today's world. Almost no one leaves school after their junior cert anymore. The choice you have made could keep you in minimum wage jobs for the rest of your life.

If you don't do (1), you will definitely 100% regret it when you're old. There is no question about this.

(2) is optional, but you should do it. Even simply for the fact that it's fun. My college days are the happiest of my life.

the_syco

unemployedpleb wrote: »

For the record, I left after the Junior Cert because I had a job freelancing as web designer which brought in a decent amount of cash for the time that it went on for. I also got decent marks in the exams too, all Cs and above with Maths honour being a B and English honour being a Distinction.

Keep up the freelancing job for now, but anyone under 18 can't sell alcohol or tobacco so most shops won't bother with you, especially if there's no lack of people over 18.

JC is only worth something if you intended on doing a trade, because otherwise no-one cares about it.

aloneforever99

Go back to school.

Staplor

unemployedpleb wrote: »

Aren't hiring near where I am, popped in and they said that it's all done online so been scoping it out for a while and nothing's popped up. Nearest one is Limerick which is a 2 hour drive daily there and back.

Surprisingly it does, above average for the area where I used to live years ago.

Years ago when you were what age?

Do freecodecamp.com as if it's a full-time job between now and going back to school.

If you like web design, you may as well take it seriously and be way ahead of the game when you're done with school.

Paul_Mc1988

OMM 0000 wrote:

2. Go to college.

Or get a trade which is equally as good

spurious

The school year starts in August so not sure what your problem was with your old school - they were saying yes.

You should contact your local Adult Ed. Officer in your local ETB (was VEC). I am presuming you didn't just leave a couple of years ago and are over 21 or so. If not, go back to your old school.

Kind of surprised someone who left after the Junior recently (with all the stay at school initiatives) writes like you do. It is more often people who struggle with school, literacy and writing in general who leave these days, compounding their difficulty in finding work.

Wait, your English grade was a Distinction? What exam did you do?

Paul_Mc1988

Paul_Mc1988 wrote: »

Or get a trade which is equally as good

Not for someone already making money from webdev at 14 or 15.

lawred2

unemployedpleb wrote: »

For the record, I left after the Junior Cert because I had a job freelancing as web designer which brought in a decent amount of cash for the time that it went on for. I also got decent marks in the exams too, all Cs and above with Maths honour being a B and English honour being a Distinction.

I “dropped out” after the Junior Cert on the 20th on June and started to drop in CVs to places like Centra, Dunnes, small shops that were hiring, places like that. Centra in my village are always having new people from the school I went to in there so I thought I had a chance; dropped one in and didn’t hear anything back. I tried Mallow’s; same story. So far, I’ve had 0 interviews and 0 acknowledgements that I even exist from employers.

I thought about going back to school, so I enquired back to my secondary school and they said that they wouldn’t be able to take me back on until the start of the new term, in August. That was over 10 months away at the time so I didn’t bother and still won’t. Youthreach don’t have anything for me that I find useful for my career and FAS shut down. Can’t sign on, so I’m left with no money for myself. Thankfully have dinner at night and a roof over my head so I’m not unlucky at all.

Apart from moving back to England where my qualifications mean something, does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do? The bordem is real and quite **** honestly.

Cheers.

Who told you that a few B's and C's was a good Junior cert?

Go back to school. Leaving after junior cert near classes as uneducated these days.

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Not for someone already making money from webdev at 14 or 15.

If he was making decent money he wouldn't be looking for minimum wage jobs in local shops.

Web design for pocket money and one that pays rent and living expenses and tax is entirely different. You're also completing with every kid who will do it essentially close to free.

If you are raking 20-25k a year them maybe. But if you were you wouldn't be looking for a job in a shop

beauf

beauf wrote: »

If he was making decent money he wouldn't be looking for minimum wage jobs in local shops.

Web design for pocket money and one that pays rent and living expenses and tax is entirely different. You're also completing with every kid who will do it essentially close to free.

If you are raking 20-25k a year them maybe. But if you were you wouldn't be looking for a job in a shop

I meant he has the aptitude and interest in it so he should pursue it. His money now is irrelevant.

Rikand

How old are you ?

Triceratops Ballet

Op google FIT it's a new technology apprenticeship run by the government and apprentice council . It runs over 2 years. First six months class based, the rest is between a class and sponsor company. You get apprentice pay for the duration and you can pick between software Dev, networking or cyber security.

realitykeeper

Unless you become a successful entrepreneur, don`t expect a high paid job with good junior cert results. That said, the leaving cert is over rated by employers and a lot of third level courses are worthless. You could continue to freelance in webdesign if you are good at the latest HTML, CCS, javascript, php my admin, etc etc. The ability to sell yourself or your product or service is important. An apprenticeship in something could stand you in good sted to go self employed or to get a job.

If you find you are not a natural sales person, then the product you sell should be the sort of thing that is very easy to sell, i.e. something everyone needs and wants. This type of product e.g. food, will sell even in the worst of recessions. Food for thought. Other businesses that do well in recessionary times are cobblers and locksmiths. I recently read the "cobbler shop" in Cork is closing after 40 years because the owners were retiring and there was nobody to take over. I think they combined key cutting/locks/safes etc with their cobbler/leather goods service.

Lackey

colm_mcm wrote: »

Go back to school in September. You’re only a year behind, no big deal.

With TY The OP won’t even be a year behind.

Go back to school ...you’ll be heading into 5th year with most of your junior cert year anyway.

Lackey

spurious wrote: »

The school year starts in August so not sure what your problem was with your old school - they were saying yes.

Wait, your English grade was a Distinction? What exam did you do?

The new junior certificate doesn’t award A,B etc for English it’s distinction merit or pass...

Again OP ..go back to school and get your LC

spurious

Lackey wrote: »

The new junior certificate doesn’t award A,B etc for English it’s distinction merit or pass...

Again OP ..go back to school and get your LC

Yes I know that. I thought the OP had left school a few years, not just last June.

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I meant he has the aptitude and interest in it so he should pursue it. His money now is irrelevant.

To do webdev or development properly you have to study it and teach yourself. It's lifetime learning. I'm not saying to have to be in school or college to learn it. But a lot of people are seduced out of school by a bit of work that gives then a first taste of cash with realising it has no potential for future growth. A lot of them end up realising this and having to go back to school in their 20's.

Dropping out of school is not a good indicator for a career that requires constant self learning.

If they are making serious money that's different. Someone doing that probably has no need for further study. They would generally have some definite ideas of what they wanted to do.

Someone dropping out and being so vague and no plans so soon after quitting suggests there is no plan, that it was very much a spur of the moment action. Or some crisis that caused it. I think that person needs to take a step back and do some thinking.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

To do webdev or development properly you have to study it and teach yourself. It's lifetime learning. I'm not saying to have to be in school or college to learn it. But a lot of people are seduced out of school by a bit of work that gives then a first taste of cash with realising it has no potential for future growth. A lot of them end up realising this and having to go back to school in their 20's.

Dropping out of school is not a good indicator for a career that requires constant self learning.

If they are making serious money that's different. Someone doing that probably has no need for further study. They would generally have some definite ideas of what they wanted to do.

Someone dropping out and being so vague and no plans so soon after quitting suggests there is no plan, that it was very much a spur of the moment action. Or some crisis that caused it. I think that person needs to take a step back and do some thinking.

Which is why I told him to study that course that while he's doing nothing else before going back to school.

OMM 0000

Paul_Mc1988 wrote: »

Or get a trade which is equally as good

It's not equally as good - if you want to work in countries like Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, and many others, they require you to have a degree.

But I agree with your sentiment - a trade is a great skill, a great job, and in demand.

And you could argue a trade will earn you a lot more money than a lot of the pointless degrees people are doing.

beauf

Was working in asia something that was an option for the OP ??

The OP needs to go talk to a career guidance or counselling.

alroley

Getting a few Cs in your Junior Cert (or even As) is not really a qualification.

Go back to school and get a leaving cert.

Spook_ie

Confused by the moving back to England bit, did you do Junior Cert (Ireland) or GCSE (UK except Scotland)?

RossieMan

Lads, the OP is obviously a troll. The story doesn't make any sense. Stop feeding it.

doolox

My daughter has Aspergers autism and depression and she had to leave school in transition year because she could not handle the classroom dynamics and frequent conflicts any more.

I must say that the teachers were very sympathetic and supportive to her and tried very hard to persuade her to remain in school to the LC. This would have not been the case in my day.

The frustrating thing is that she is very academically inclined, all the teachers reports were very positive and she had no disciplinary issues.

She did level 5 animal care in a college of further education, she is good at exams with little effort but bad at assignments and homework. She cannot work in a self directed way, which is vital in today's working world.

However, she secured employment in a local vets 25 hours a week and is thinking of returning to education. She hopes to be a vet but the points for that are very high.

We will wait and see.

I would suggest that the OP get accessed for any underlying learning or psychological impediment which may have prompted him to leave school early.
The JC is not high enough for any but the very basic level of work. Entry to trades is now very competitive and almost requires the LC and some relevant work or voluntary experience or proof of hobbies and interests and knowledge in the chosen trade. Many trades people further engage in Diploma, Ordinary and honours degree level courses in their chosen fields. This is the case for many electrical, plumbing, HVAC and Hardware IT support roles especially in industrial jobs.

If you think that you may not have any difficulty, I was diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 52 after many years of struggle with education and work which saw me being let go from a job after 7 months because of unsatisfactory performance. My two previous jobs lasted 14 yrs and 13 yrs and were OK, but modern work practices and demands on the modern workforce are now so intensive and demanding that any weakness will jeopardise a persons chances of progressing or holding down a job.

You need to know yourself well enough to seek help if needed and keep ahead of the curve career-wise.

It is possible to do the LC in 6 subjects and, if you spent time in England you may get an exemption from Irish. however a second language will be needed to enter some Universities in Ireland, if you do not have Irish. CAO points count only six subjects so doing six subjects may be easier than doing the usual 7 or 8.I take it that you are a young adult, many young adults find the LC more manageable than late teens because they are more focused, more effective in their work and studies and less distracted by peer pressure, social nonsense and immaturity problems which beset many late teens. The relationships between teachers and adult students is much more productive and cogent and focused on the mission than with teens, less nonsense, conflict or clowning around occurs.

I hope this helps.

OMM 0000

beauf wrote: »

Was working in asia something that was an option for the OP ??

The OP needs to go talk to a career guidance or counselling.

I was responding to the statement that a trade is "equally as good" as a degree.

Working in Asia is not the only advantage of having a degree.

Go to a job website and look how many jobs say a degree is a requirement.

Doing a trade is great, I'm not in any way anti-trade, but a trade and a degree are not equally good.

Dial Hard

doolox wrote:

She has Aspergers autism and depression and she had to leave school in transition year because she could not handle the classroom dynamics and frequent conflicts any more.

Huh? Who?

doolox

My previous post has been edited to make things clearer. Apologies for any previous lack of clarity.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

Was working in asia something that was an option for the OP ??

The OP needs to go talk to a career guidance or counselling.

To be fair, I use my degree for nothing except living in Asia. It's a useful thing to have.

Paul_Mc1988

OMM 0000 wrote:

It's not equally as good - if you want to work in countries like Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, and many others, they require you to have a degree.

I've never seen a reply so far off the point

OP you seemed happy to go back - why were you not happy to wait until this autumn?

Treat this year as a sort of transition year. Are there any skills you would like that aren't offered at school you could pick up yourself?
Anything you would like to volunteer for to get some experience?

mrmorgan

i did my leaving and never went to college.

I work for a big international company and taught myself everything I know and went up through the ranks to my now senior position.

I am going back to college by night now (which the company pay for) but i am a firm believer that if i went to college straight after the leaving, i would not have such a good job and wage now.

But i could have got lucky along the way also

Donald Trump

mrmorgan wrote: »

i did my leaving and never went to college.

I work for a big international company and taught myself everything I know and went up through the ranks to my now senior position.

I am going back to college by night now (which the company pay for) but i am a firm believer that if i went to college straight after the leaving, i would not have such a good job and wage now.

But i could have got lucky along the way also

You should give a bit of a timeline for context. 25 years ago doing your Leaving probably put you into a better percentile in terms of opportunities than someone with a degree today.

doolox

Some sectors are great for developing and educating their workers on joining their companies, I find that Accountancy and retail are good at this and emphasise and encourage continuing adult education better than other sectors.

The days of joining a company and earning money with the JC or LC are over. I see that even the most junior jobs now require degrees and internships for no money before the job is secured.

Mammy and Daddy have to support adult children into their mid 20's now. Some even into early 30's.

conndeal

Look up www.fetchcourses.ie You might find a short course you could do while you are looking for a job.

OMM 0000

Experts think most driving (taxi, truck driver) and service industry jobs will be automated in 10 years.

That means in less than 10 years there's going to be a huge amount of "unskilled" people looking for jobs.

Do you really want to be competing with all those people, or do you want your skills and education to separate you from the pack?

listermint

OMM 0000 wrote: »

It's not equally as good - if you want to work in countries like Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, and many others, they require you to have a degree.

But I agree with your sentiment - a trade is a great skill, a great job, and in demand.

And you could argue a trade will earn you a lot more money than a lot of the pointless degrees people are doing.

What a random response....


Don't do a trade because some Asian countries won't recognise is it.


Lol

listermint

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Experts think most driving (taxi, truck driver) and service industry jobs will be automated in 10 years.

That means in less than 10 years there's going to be a huge amount of "unskilled" people looking for jobs.

Do you really want to be competing with all those people, or do you want your skills and education to separate you from the pack?

The fact you think electricians, plumbers , fitters are unskilled is absolutely ridiculous.

You won't automate trades.

You can however automate a business degree or an accountants degree. Watch that space.

OMM 0000

listermint wrote: »

What a random response....

Don't do a trade because some Asian countries won't recognise is it.

Lol

It's not just Asia.

Many countries require this for proper work permits.

For example, USA.

Many people want to travel and work around the world.

OMM 0000

listermint wrote: »

The fact you think electricians, plumbers , fitters are unskilled is absolutely ridiculous.

Where did I say I think electricians, plumbers , fitters are unskilled?

Why are you making up things about me?

OMM 0000

listermint wrote: »

You won't automate trades.

This is very naive.

Construction is already changing - houses are being made in factories and delivered to sites.

It's going to reach a stage where the people installing the house are just that - installers.

Of course, we're a long way away from not needing people with trades.

I'm aware there's more to trades than building houses.

But think of this -

It's already happening to mechanics. Have you seen what their typical job is these days? Attach a laptop to the car, and then replace the part. With electric cars, there's very few moving parts. We're going to reach a stage (soon) where the people fixing your car don't need to be mechanics - they are just people who can replace parts.

Try to think it through, it's going to happen.

listermint

OMM 0000 wrote: »

This is very naive.

Construction is already changing - houses are being made in factories and delivered to sites.

It's going to reach a stage where the people installing the house are just that - installers.

Of course, we're a long way away from not needing people with trades.

I'm aware there's more to trades than building houses.

But think of this -

It's already happening to mechanics. Have you seen what their typical job is these days? Attach a laptop to the car, and then replace the part. With electric cars, there's very few moving parts. We're going to reach a stage (soon) where the people fixing your car don't need to be mechanics - they are just people who can replace parts.

Try to think it through, it's going to happen.

You won't automate electricians you won't automate plumbers and you won't automate fitters.

It's not naive only an idiot would think those jobs can be automated.

Incidentally we are already automating much of a traditional developers work. The point of this thread.


And you are still going on about travel and trades. Your a gas man. A little uninformed but gas all the same

And btw I'm an engineer working into IT sector. Nothing to do with trades.