Trying to find a job

irishash · 12-07-2016 04:17PM #1

My wife is currently looking for a job and despite sending out multiple CV s, applying to any suitable job she sees on any of the job sites, even going store to store in one of the large shopping centres in Dublin, she is still unable to find a job.

A bit of background My wife came to Ireland in July 2012 to continue our relationship, we got married a year later. Before moving here she lived in the UK studying and taking on part-time jobs, usually provided by businesses her friend operated/owned. So she worked for a while cleaning, or front of house for a restaurant, or light office work. All paying jobs while lacking the ability to gain real concrete experience, so her CV is light (but not bare). She is originally from Poland, but her English is on a par with any other polish national living here.

She has never claimed social welfare or any other kind of benefit while living here. I have been supporting the both of us for the past 4 years, and while it has been tough living on a single income, we have managed to make it work. We have had to give up on some things (holidays, weekends out, other normal luxerys) but we are happy. A little bit of extra cash would give us the ability to enjoy our life a little more.

While here in Ireland, she has had a job cleaning at St James Hospital, but was treated badly by the contractor. She left that job after 6 months. She got a temp position at the national lottery for 4 months last summer, but has had nothing since. We have paid for private college to try and beef up her CV (she aced a payroll & bookkeeping at IBAT College) and since she does not get any assistance from Intero (or whatever FAS is called now) we have to save up for courses.

She is starting to get quite depressed these days and I actually fear for our future. Our marriage is at risk and while I am doing everything I can to help her, even I am getting frustrated by the demands of employers in this country, and by the very services that are supposed to help her. I have a full time job and there is only so much I can do with the free time I have. I have tried recruitment agencies but none ever get back to me.

So I ask you all, have you any advice? I will answer any questions you have (There are gaps in the story above I know) in order to try and help develop some sort of plan.

One last note She does not want to do cleaning (or catering work) again. It is not a snobbery thing, just that the experience she had has turned her off it and she wants to try and aim higher.

Hazydays123 · 12-07-2016 09:00PM

Would she be interested in being a prison officer?

https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/campaignAdvert/33636.htm

There are lots of opportunities and competitions coming up on publicjobs these days. Is she registered on it?

Mrs OBumble · 12-07-2016 11:51PM

Is she networking in the Polish community? Many people in Ireland get jobs by having a friend put a good word in for them. Ask people you know who are working if they can help recommend her for any jobs which come up in their workplaces. (People are quite stupid sometimes: you actually have to say "please can you recommend me" - not just "I am looking for a job" and hope that the make the link between that and doing something about it.)

For retail, I recommend applying to the larger UK chains, as they apply anti-discrimination policies.

Registering on publicjobs.ie is a good idea. If she gets selected to answer an on-line test from them, questions should all be answered as optimistically as possible without lying outright.

Is it possible for her to sign for welfare, even though she would get only a very small payment? That way, she would be eligible for courses etc - and she would also get pension credits (which don't matter to you now, but will when she gets old).

Would she consider doing volunteer work? Sometimes that can lead to paying work. check out http://www.volunteer.ie/ for things close to you.

Senna · 13-07-2016 12:41AM

irishash wrote: »

One last note She does not want to do cleaning (or catering work) again. It is not a snobbery thing, just that the experience she had has turned her off it and she wants to try and aim higher.

That's a huge part of the jobs market that would be more open to hiring people for whom English isn't their first language.
It's the busy season for hotels and catering, if she got her foot in the door with a hotel, the bookkeeping course could get her moved into a front office position. I know many people who got into admin/office work by starting in hotels doing food service or cleaning etc, moved to reception and then had the experience to move to a more tradition administration 9-5 job.
Not want you want to hear, but if things are desperate, ruling out the largest potential employer is obviously leaving her with very little options.

kostascx123 · 15-07-2016 03:48PM

this country is a joke for getting jobs. the only way u can get a job is if you suck a manager..
i was told try doing security you will have more chances of getting a job. i paid 350 for the course passed the course with the highest mark possible. applied for more then 20 security jobs, but no one seems to get back at me.

Senna · 15-07-2016 08:50PM

kostascx123 wrote: »

this country is a joke for getting jobs. the only way u can get a job is if you suck a manager..
i was told try doing security you will have more chances of getting a job. i paid 350 for the course passed the course with the highest mark possible. applied for more then 20 security jobs, but no one seems to get back at me.

Yes it's the countries fault, never the person. Take some personal responsibility and maybe work out why no one is employing you, then fix it.

kostascx123 · 16-07-2016 08:25PM

Senna wrote: »

Yes it's the countries fault, never the person. Take some personal responsibility and maybe work out why no one is employing you, then fix it.

I never said it was the countries fault. I don't know what fault I have maybe I'm a forenigner whats why.

Trying to find a job

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