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I attended a job interview today, only 400 applicants!

costadeldole

I attended a job interview today.
Only 400 applicants for one position!
The job ad was only online for 24 hours, then it was taken down.
So I have a 1/400 chance of getting it. No chance at all really. I don't know why I bothered.
My skills, suitability, experience, qualifications; are a perfect match for the role, and its 5 minutes walk from my home, so ideal really.
But its a bad state of affairs when a man is up against so many others; equally, if not more hungry for work.
You know people complain about dole men like myself not wanting to work, but the reality is that its not that easy to get a job these days. During the Celtic Tiger boom years a man that wanted a job could get one easily, but now in the bust times its a labour rich market, and hard for a man to get a job.
A few friends of mine got their jobs through word of mouth, or relatives putting in a good word for them. It wasn't a question of emailing their CV and going for an interview. It was a drink in the pub, then a handshake and start on Monday.
So while this level of nepotism and cronyism still prevails in our country, what hope have you got?
My own father has benefited from it over the years so I can't complain too much. He worked all his life until he retired at 65, and never claimed a days dole. He also never attended a job interview in his life, or had to email a CV. Often his jobs were offered on a Gaelic football pitch and done on a handshake over a few pints after the match. The Irish looked after their own back then, it was a different time.
People complain about cronyism, but to be honest; if I had a taste of it, and got jobs through it, I would be as corrupt as the rest of them.
1/400 chance of that job today, versus a handshake on the pitch and start. The truth is I would prefer the latter.
I remember when one of my friends was out of work, and I put in a word for him at my firm and got him a start. He was so pleased to get off the dole himself he gave me his first weeks wages to say thanks. It was a good little number for him as well. No job interview needed. And that was how it was even for myself, looking after my own people.
I suppose one has to accept the way it is now, boom and the employee can pick and choose work; bust and the employer can pick and choose worker. That's just the way it is.
Right now I feel like a mans choices are; stay on the dole until the next cycle of boom, or emigrate for work.

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costadeldole

Fuhrer wrote: »

You do know the dole pays less than 23k, right?

The dole pays me a total of 245 Euro for a zero working hour week.
That 23k per year job would pay me around 150 Euro per week more for a 60 hour working week.
So would I do 60 hours per week for 150 Euro more than my dole? No, I would not.

Fuhrer

costadeldole wrote: »

My last job was 32k doing the same role. Could I take 9k per year less for doing the same role? No, I could not.
I would rather be on the dole, than demoralised by working for nothing.
If I was a green graduate hungry for my first entry level job at 21, then yes I would have taken it. But at 37 I think I have served my apprenticeship now.
23k jobs aren't what I want. Had the employer put the salary on the ad, I wouldn't have applied.

You do know the dole pays less than 23k, right?

crybaby

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I had a boss who looked at addresses too, but he was looking for country folk over people that lived in towns. More likely to get up in the morning and do a day's work, he reckoned.

oh for christ sake...

dem city boys.....all the same so dey are

costadeldole

180Bhoy wrote: »

So you would prefer to draw the dole than earn 23k. Brilliant! Could you not take the job whilst you're looking fora bbetter paying one?

My last job was 32k doing the same role. Could I take 9k per year less for doing the same role? No, I could not.
I would rather be on the dole, than demoralised by working for nothing.
If I was a green graduate hungry for my first entry level job at 21, then yes I would have taken it. But at 37 I think I have served my apprenticeship now.
23k jobs aren't what I want. Had the employer put the salary on the ad, I wouldn't have applied.

180Bhoy

So you would prefer to draw the dole than earn 23k. Brilliant! Could you not take the job whilst you're looking fora bbetter paying one?

costadeldole

wyndhurst wrote: »

It is not nepotism or cronyism if it is in the private sector. It is called your Network or Networking.
Employers know that trusted and hard working employees are more likely to recommend or vouch for like-minded individuals.
Professionals in Ireland & elsewhere put a lot of effort into building and maintaining their network. That is typically how head-hunting happens or how many get / move jobs.

People need to build and maintain good solid reputations in employment. Not just with employers / managers but also with fellow employees. If you are in a canteen or on a job and are constantly moaning, complaining or generally a useless sack of s.it, then that reputation can easily follow you around. Ireland is small place and it is relatively easy to unofficially check up on a potential candidate through networks if a hiring manager really wanted to.

Networking is OK, until it develops into cronyism.
For example, a local cafe only employs Polish staff. I knew an Irish girl that lasted 2 weeks in the job. She was shunned by all staff and ground down until she had enough of them only speaking in Polish at work. The only time they spoke English was when serving customers. So basically one can't work in that cafe unless Polish. Despite having a high turnover of staff, they never advertised vacancies, it was always done through word of mouth in the Polish community. The Irish girl I know heard about it that way from a Polish girl she gyms with.
The truth is, that Irish girl is better on the dole than putting up with that 'networking'.

costadeldole

cloudatlas wrote: »

You are a UKIP councillors wet dream.

I support UKIP as it happens, and if I still lived in the UK they would get my vote in the 2015 general election.
I can see a Conservative/UKIP coalition in the next government.
The UK leaving the EU would be good for them, and I hope it happens.

costadeldole

Just thought I would update you all.
I attended the second round of interviews this morning, and in the afternoon I got a call offering me the job.
The hours and working conditions were satisfactory, but the pay offered wasn't.
23,000 Euro per year for a middle management job.
So I politely declined the offer, after trying to negotiate more pay.
I have 16 years previous industry specific experience, and a masters degree in the profession, so I was looking for 30,000 plus.
I think 23k is fair for an entry level graduate job, but not for someone with more experience and qualifications.
So on the dole I stay.
At 37 I wont be working for 23k. My last job was 32k per year, and that is around the right level for what I was doing.
The sad thing is, they will find someone desperate enough to take on that job for only 23k. Best of luck to them.

Reoil

costadeldole wrote: »

Yes, I may as well grow a beard and wear skinny jeans too, in order to fully complete the hipster dick look. Great advice, many thanks for that.

Since when do hipsters buy the Times and do its crossword?

cloudatlas

costadeldole wrote: »

I emigrated to Ireland from London 5 years ago.
Hypocritical if I were to emigrate back? No.
During the Celtic Tiger boom we needed cheap Eastern European labour to work on the sites.
But its not the boom now, its bust. So we don't need them. That's not a dig at foreign workers, that's a fact.
Personally would I favour an Irish man over an Eastern European man when hiring? Yes, I would. That's just me, and my own old school values I suppose; looking after our own.

You are a UKIP councillors wet dream.

wyndhurst

costadeldole wrote: »

So while this level of nepotism and cronyism still prevails in our country, what hope have you got?.

It is not nepotism or cronyism if it is in the private sector. It is called your Network or Networking.
Employers know that trusted and hard working employees are more likely to recommend or vouch for like-minded individuals.
Professionals in Ireland & elsewhere put a lot of effort into building and maintaining their network. That is typically how head-hunting happens or how many get / move jobs.

People need to build and maintain good solid reputations in employment. Not just with employers / managers but also with fellow employees. If you are in a canteen or on a job and are constantly moaning, complaining or generally a useless sack of s.it, then that reputation can easily follow you around. Ireland is small place and it is relatively easy to unofficially check up on a potential candidate through networks if a hiring manager really wanted to.

180Bhoy

Funny how he only says he got called for a second interview as soon as someone questions his interview skills? From not a hope of getting the job to second interview in about 10 mins

Shrap

costadeldole wrote: »

Yes, I may as well grow a beard and wear skinny jeans too, in order to fully complete the hipster dick look. Great advice, many thanks for that.

Do you want advice OP? That would be more fun...and I'll be constructive based on my 1990's hiring skills...

I am that bored.

Shrap

Jaysus. Did I kill the thread?!

Sorry.

Shrap

Nuts102 wrote: »

I can't believe you think a company is going to interview 400 people and waste weeks or months on picking a new employee.

Totally. They aren't and they don't. Like someone said before, the vast majority of those applicants are from people entirely unqualified and chancing it, probably in an on-line application.

I once landed a job as a "recruitment executive", or head-hunter to you and me. Worst job of my life. I got the job through a friend's mother who knew the two chancers who had set up the firm - I wasn't qualified in any shape or form but they liked my accent, hence the shoo-in. As a head-hunter, you're cold calling companies to sell your "massive" database of potential qualified employees and at the same time cold-calling people with the right qualifications for the jobs you're sourcing to try and persuade them to come for interview - enticing them with a sweeter deal than the one they have. Awful. Anyhow, the vast majority of CVs left in by people calling in were binned, like this company will have done to the 400 applicants.

The head-hunter is basically a middle man who supposedly pre-interviews applicants so the company doesn't have to winnow them down to 4 or 6 potentials themselves. There are only ever a small number people right for a job requiring qualifications, and nobody need think that there's that much of a challenge involved (ie. 400). It just means the company didn't hire a recruitment agency.

Davarus Walrus

costadeldole wrote: »

Yes, I may as well grow a beard and wear skinny jeans too, in order to fully complete the hipster dick look. Great advice, many thanks for that.

Don't do that. No one likes hipsters. Wear a suit.

costadeldole

Davarus Walrus wrote: »

Pretend to be finishing the Irish Times crossword as they call you in for interview. Wear glasses with large frames for added gravitas.

Yes, I may as well grow a beard and wear skinny jeans too, in order to fully complete the hipster dick look. Great advice, many thanks for that.

Davarus Walrus

Pretend to be finishing the Irish Times crossword as they call you in for interview. Wear glasses with large frames for added gravitas.

costadeldole

Fuhrer wrote: »

Didnt he say it was for a shop?

No.

costadeldole

Deleted User wrote: »

A shop?

No.

[Deleted User]

Fuhrer wrote: »

Didnt he say it was for a shop?

I don't think so?

Unless I completely missed that

Edit: nope, no mention of a shop, a job he is perfect for and his only way of ups killing to get get a phd.

Fuhrer

Deleted User wrote: »

A shop?

Didnt he say it was for a shop?

[Deleted User]

Fuhrer wrote: »

Two rounds of interviews whittled down from 400 applications sounds like a little much to be working in a shop though.

I suppose this is what Jobsbridge has done though, all the normal jobs that you could pick up to make a little money for Christmas are now Internships and the only jobs paying minimum wage are being bum rushed with applicants.

A shop?

Backstreet Moyes

costadeldole wrote: »

I attended a job interview today.
Only 400 applicants for one position!
The job ad was only online for 24 hours, then it was taken down.
So I have a 1/400 chance of getting it. No chance at all really. I don't know why I bothered.
My skills, suitability, experience, qualifications; are a perfect match for the role, and its 5 minutes walk from my home, so ideal really.
But its a bad state of affairs when a man is up against so many others; equally, if not more hungry for work.
You know people complain about dole men like myself not wanting to work, but the reality is that its not that easy to get a job these days. During the Celtic Tiger boom years a man that wanted a job could get one easily, but now in the bust times its a labour rich market, and hard for a man to get a job.
A few friends of mine got their jobs through word of mouth, or relatives putting in a good word for them. It wasn't a question of emailing their CV and going for an interview. It was a drink in the pub, then a handshake and start on Monday.
So while this level of nepotism and cronyism still prevails in our country, what hope have you got?
My own father has benefited from it over the years so I can't complain too much. He worked all his life until he retired at 65, and never claimed a days dole. He also never attended a job interview in his life, or had to email a CV. Often his jobs were offered on a Gaelic football pitch and done on a handshake over a few pints after the match. The Irish looked after their own back then, it was a different time.
People complain about cronyism, but to be honest; if I had a taste of it, and got jobs through it, I would be as corrupt as the rest of them.
1/400 chance of that job today, versus a handshake on the pitch and start. The truth is I would prefer the latter.
I remember when one of my friends was out of work, and I put in a word for him at my firm and got him a start. He was so pleased to get off the dole himself he gave me his first weeks wages to say thanks. It was a good little number for him as well. No job interview needed. And that was how it was even for myself, looking after my own people.
I suppose one has to accept the way it is now, boom and the employee can pick and choose work; bust and the employer can pick and choose worker. That's just the way it is.
Right now I feel like a mans choices are; stay on the dole until the next cycle of boom, or emigrate for work.

If 400 applied and you got to the interview stage they are not interviewing more than 10 or 15 people. So your down to a 1 in 10 or 15 chance. You said your a perfect match and live close so if you impress at the interview you have a great shot.

I can't believe you think a company is going to interview 400 people and waste weeks or months on picking a new employee.

strandroad

mariaalice wrote: »

There is free movement of labour in the EC as you can see by the fact that you have freely move from London to here or anywhere in the EC you want. I feel for anyone out of work but you are not doing yourself any favour's you took a week wages form someone for getting them a job, you think you are being disadvantaged by having to go for an interview instead of getting a job on a nod and a hand shake and you don't want to have to compete with eastern European workers just because you are Irish?.

He also seems to expect to get a job based on his address... Funny thread!

Fuhrer

Deleted User wrote: »

It does, but he already had the interview and is being invited back for a second one. He's no longer 400/1 and still thinks he shouldn't have bothered applying.

Two rounds of interviews whittled down from 400 applications sounds like a little much to be working in a shop though.

I suppose this is what Jobsbridge has done though, all the normal jobs that you could pick up to make a little money for Christmas are now Internships and the only jobs paying minimum wage are being bum rushed with applicants.

[Deleted User]

costadeldole wrote: »

I emigrated to Ireland from London 5 years ago.
Hypocritical if I were to emigrate back? No.
During the Celtic Tiger boom we needed cheap Eastern European labour to work on the sites.
But its not the boom now, its bust. So we don't need them. That's not a dig at foreign workers, that's a fact.
Personally would I favour an Irish man over an Eastern European man when hiring? Yes, I would. That's just me, and my own old school values I suppose; looking after our own.

There is free movement of labour in the EC as you can see by the fact that you have freely move from London to here or anywhere in the EC you want. I feel for anyone out of work but you are not doing yourself any favour's you took a week wages form someone for getting them a job, you think you are being disadvantaged by having to go for an interview instead of getting a job on a nod and a hand shake and you don't want to have to compete with eastern European workers just because you are Irish?.

efb

costadeldole wrote: »

I emigrated to Ireland from London 5 years ago.
Hypocritical if I were to emigrate back? No.
During the Celtic Tiger boom we needed cheap Eastern European labour to work on the sites.
But its not the boom now, its bust. So we don't need them. That's not a dig at foreign workers, that's a fact.
Personally would I favour an Irish man over an Eastern European man when hiring? Yes, I would. That's just me, and my own old school values I suppose; looking after our own.

Why? Why does a persons nationality make a good skill set for employment?

efb

I recommended a few people that ended up getting jobs. I think of it as giving a reference but they still have to prove it their worth

Nermal

costadeldole wrote: »

I suppose one has to accept the way it is now, boom and the employee can pick and choose work; bust and the employer can pick and choose worker.

We're in a boom now!