Can't get a job

simongurnick · 11-12-2018 4:49pm

frosty123 wrote: »

i started back in September

i did from my "good friends" in turas nua :rolleyes: (don't get me started)

my PA made it completely OTT...as if i'm capable of working for NASA can just imagine HR people havin a right snigger at it

One thing I've found is you have to tailor your CV a bit for each opening. Sending out a blitz as you mentioned doesn't always work. If a firm is looking for specific skills or experience, that needs to jump out on your CV. It takes a bit more time but editing the CV for each application can make a difference.
Also, getting a name of one of the recruiters is important, then you can follow up with a person instead of a general inbox or a receptionist who just files it away.

Anyway, not saying I'm an expert, but I was recently a Talent Acquisition Manager, so would be happy to take a look over your CV if you want to PM it.

Good luck out there....it isn't easy!

Raheem Euro · 11-12-2018 4:50pm

frosty123 wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

eemmmmm building site??? not to sure

yes i have the safe pass but i never worked in construction before, don't think i made out for it (physically)

The worse they can do is sack you. It would be tough work but essentially unskilled(labourer) so you're basically qualified to do it.

Stark · 11-12-2018 4:54pm

Blaise Obnoxious Vacation wrote: »

How effective do you think your CV is? E.g. are you tailoring it to suit each organisation?

simongurnick wrote: »

One thing I've found is you have to tailor your CV a bit for each opening.

I think this is probably the best advice. People appreciate it a lot when they can see a CV has been customised for the position you're applying for with the most relevant info front and centre.

Also since you've sent the same CV to a whole ton of companies and not a single positive response, you've good data to suggest that there's something wrong with your CV. In the absence of posting the CV here for us to critique, experimenting with sending different types of CVs would be a good approach. Or get friends/family members to check it over for major red flags/typos etc. (Bear in mind though that friends and family often give terrible CV advice).

Trigger Happy · 11-12-2018 5:02pm

Some good advice in this thread OP. Having seen hundreds of CVs in my time you get to spot the ones full of BS or the ones that show someone to be either over qualified for the job that they are not worth interviewing.

CVs should be customised for the role you are applying for. Try to fill in any employment gaps as best you can. Have a good profile statement at the start of the CV outlining the type of person you are the role you are seeking. That can be fluff but helps give an employer a feel for who you are and what you want.
Also - go try to meet people. Easy enough to do when applying for jobs in shops etc. It helps the recruiter see who you really are.

Cypher_sounds · 11-12-2018 5:09pm

Do you resemble Santa Claus in any way?

irishguitarlad · 11-12-2018 5:11pm

Emigrate.

the_syco · 11-12-2018 5:31pm

frosty123 wrote: »

i did from my "good friends" in turas nua :rolleyes: (don't get me started)

I'd advise you get CV help from someone who works in HR.

Lefty Bicek · 11-12-2018 6:01pm

frosty123 wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

eemmmmm building site??? not to sure

yes i have the safe pass but i never worked in construction before, don't think i made out for it (physically)

Construction... the physical graft is really gone from that now, you're unlikely to be hodding or mixing with a shovel, tending three brickies.

Even if you were, your body becomes accustomed to it very quickly, and you gain conditioning.

I did it, in the '80's and early '90's. I was a strong fella used to graft anyway, but I hated it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Needs must when you're unskilled though.

Working class heroes · 11-12-2018 6:12pm

Hi OP.
Don’t take this the wrong way and I hope you don’t mind me asking but, are you a member of the traveling community?
Or do you feel you are been discriminated in any other way, a disability maybe?

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 11-12-2018 6:14pm

Don't give up hope OP.

I had a place ring me yesterday 3 years after initially applying to them.

So clearly when they say they'll keep the cv on file they apparently do.

CinemaGuy45 · 11-12-2018 6:16pm

frosty123 wrote: »

Honest to god...sending out cv's left right and centre, signed up with recruitment agencies, not being in anyway fussy even warehouse work would do and ......nothing, no replies nothing, even aldi & lidl don't wanna know.

Granted i'm long term unemployed (over 2 years) and in my late 30's..but i thought i'd get at least some sort of response esp this time of year, but ..no, zilch!

am i on the scrapeheap for life?

(i'm in the mid-west btw, near Limerick)

I was going to give you a negative reply until the last sentence your in Limerick to be honest Dublin has the majority of jobs.

wakka12 · 11-12-2018 6:54pm

Best time to look for jobs is september or start of january, many places will have taken on staff in the months prior to this for summer/winter so you should try then when they start hiring again in large numbers

Well for me anyway I remember it was november when I started looking for a job last year and many people I went to interviews for said it was a bad time to apply as most companies had taken on staff for christmas already and might hire again after christmas.

erica74 · 11-12-2018 6:56pm

I was in the same position around this time 2 years ago. I applied everywhere. The jobs I had the right experience for, didn't even get back to me, Penneys, Aldi, cleaning jobs etc, told me I didn't have the right experience for the job. People have this attitude of "if you apply for a job in Penneys/Tesco/the local corner shop, you'll get a job" but it's not that simple. The likes of Tesco seem to really want you to fit into a box where they have to provide as little training as possible. I have 13 years working as a secretary, dealing with people every day, excellent references and I was refused by every single shop I applied to. Many companies will no longer accept cvs handed in in person, I am speaking from experience here. I was told "apply online", "keep an eye on the website" in the vast majority of places I tried to hand my CV into.

Now, onto the positive. You will get a job, there is a job out there for you, you just have to be patient. I know as the bills pile up and your social life disappears due to lack of money, it can feel very hopeless but, if you persevere, keep applying, look every day, you will get there.

Naos · 11-12-2018 7:30pm

erica74 wrote: »

I was in the same position around this time 2 years ago. I applied everywhere. The jobs I had the right experience for, didn't even get back to me, Penneys, Aldi, cleaning jobs etc, told me I didn't have the right experience for the job. People have this attitude of "if you apply for a job in Penneys/Tesco/the local corner shop, you'll get a job" but it's not that simple. The likes of Tesco seem to really want you to fit into a box where they have to provide as little training as possible. I have 13 years working as a secretary, dealing with people every day, excellent references and I was refused by every single shop I applied to. Many companies will no longer accept cvs handed in in person, I am speaking from experience here. I was told "apply online", "keep an eye on the website" in the vast majority of places I tried to hand my CV into.

Now, onto the positive. You will get a job, there is a job out there for you, you just have to be patient. I know as the bills pile up and your social life disappears due to lack of money, it can feel very hopeless but, if you persevere, keep applying, look every day, you will get there.

Did you tailor your CV to each job application?

Technocentral · 11-12-2018 7:37pm

Have you applied for Public Sector jobs?

https://publicjobs.ie/en/job-search

rob316 · 11-12-2018 7:37pm

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Naos · 11-12-2018 7:39pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

What industry is that?

rob316 · 11-12-2018 7:41pm

Naos wrote: »

What industry is that?

Office supplies. Boring as **** to be honest so I wanted to see what sort of creativity someone could bring to the job.

chicorytip · 11-12-2018 8:03pm

frosty123 wrote:

but this is xmas! if i can't get a job at the busiest time what chance have i got come the new year???

If you be willing to work in retail I would suggest applying to either B&Q or Curry's. They appear to recruit people of a much older age profile than indigenous Irish stores and I presume many of those people may have been out of the workforce for a while for one reason or another.

Pawwed Rig · 11-12-2018 8:21pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you.

I would find that demeaning tbh

mariaalice · 11-12-2018 8:22pm

Would you try taxi driving.

iamwhoiam · 11-12-2018 8:23pm

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

I would find that demeaning tbh

So would I . And unprofessional

Pelvis · 11-12-2018 8:23pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Unfortunately some jobs require actual skills, hence the CV outlining same. You can determine character and personality during the interview stage.

Raheem Euro · 11-12-2018 8:26pm

Pelvis wrote: »

You can determine character and personality during the interview stage.

Although research is a bit sketchy on that one.

Lefty Bicek · 11-12-2018 8:28pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Excellent idea.

Immediately rules out the kind of dull nerd who finds it 'demeaning' and 'unprofessional'.

Mikefitzs · 11-12-2018 8:30pm

Lots of cleaning and catering jobs all over Limerick at present. Maybe you're a bit too picky. It would help here if you said what type of work you're looking for and what training or experience you have. Go to a recruitment agency with your CV and get it checked and corrected.

Ruraldweller56 · 11-12-2018 8:41pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

So would I . And unprofessional

And quite likely in breach of data protection laws.

Lefty Bicek · 11-12-2018 8:51pm

Ruraldweller56 wrote: »

And quite likely in breach of data protection laws.

How ?

Reviews and Books Galore · 11-12-2018 8:53pm

Austria! wrote: »

That seems contradictory. If there's so much work why does he need to go to college or do additional training?

This is very true.

If there are a lot of jobs, then they should be begging people to work minimum wage. They shouldn't be turning people down for too much experience, or whatever reason.

Reviews and Books Galore · 11-12-2018 8:55pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

Emigrate.

This is horrible, but it's not a bad option. Go where you are needed and where the jobs are plentiful and people are selling themselves to you.

engiweirdo · 11-12-2018 8:57pm

rob316 wrote: »

Office supplies. Boring as **** to be honest so I wanted to see what sort of creativity someone could bring to the job.

Worst kind of ****ehawkery going in fairness. Anyone using methods like that outside of the usual douchey "morkeshing" industry should be shot at with balls of their own ****e.

Ruraldweller56 · 11-12-2018 9:46pm

Lefty Bicek wrote: »

How ?

I had a job before in an office where there was a CCTV camera pointed right at the back of my head. Needles to say it made me quite uncomfortable. I didn't stay very long.

I asked a solicitor that I know on a personal level if they'd be able to offer any advice. They got back to me after a few days and told me that they would be required by law to have what's known as a 'camera policy'.

As I'm the one being recorded in the image I have certain rights and am within them to know why its needed, (I need to make sure the little f*cker is working isn't acceptable) who has access to it, how long they're going to keep it on file, where the recording is being stored, even what type of security it's kept under.

A lot of employers do like to extract the urine around this type of stuff. Can't wait to see cases being brought against them because of it.

Thephantomsmask · 11-12-2018 9:49pm

rob316 wrote: »

Office supplies. Boring as **** to be honest so I wanted to see what sort of creativity someone could bring to the job.

If you roll a pencil, is it still stationary?

OP, are there any local groups for your area on FB? No harm putting up a post saying that you are looking for work in one of those. Same with shopping centre notice boards. Are there any call centres within travelling distance? Having worked in one during college, I can tell you that staff turn over tends to be pretty consistent and jobs available often.

Ruraldweller56 · 11-12-2018 9:52pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

I wonder if he makes them put on a skirt and do a merry little dance for them too?

ToddyDoody · 11-12-2018 9:55pm

frosty123 wrote: »

even warehouse work would do

I find this comment funny but understandable. It may be a low status part of the org but fcuk things up here and you know about it fairly quickly. (its usually the IT side of things that goes wrong - wrong stuff, wrong place etc)

Springfields · 11-12-2018 10:00pm

Any retail places have hired for Xmas by now
Why not take up one of the couple of offers on this post to look through your cv get that sorted and start fresh after Christmas.
Best of luck

Ulysses Gaze · 11-12-2018 10:00pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Next time you should propose a race around the world. Get them to meet you at Leicester Square at noon the next day. Tell them the Queen herself shall drop the checkered flag.

rob316 · 11-12-2018 10:00pm

engiweirdo wrote: »

Worst kind of ****ehawkery going in fairness. Anyone using methods like that outside of the usual douchey "morkeshing" industry should be shot at with balls of their own ****e.

In a social media age where your content says everything about your business it's needs to be entertaining, fresh and stand out. If you hire someone to your marketing team and their personality is stiff as a board, it reflects in the content they put out.

Confident we hired the right person so the method has merit.

whisky_galore · 11-12-2018 10:11pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Fűck that, it's a job, not win a Facebook travel competition.

Ruraldweller56 · 11-12-2018 10:20pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

Fűck that, it's a job, not win a Facebook travel competition.

One day all this crap will backfire badly. And I for one won't have an ounce of sympathy for them.

Don't get me started on those reprehensible 'meet the team' Web pages that people are coerced into being part of.

iamwhoiam · 11-12-2018 10:23pm

rob316 wrote: »

In a social media age where your content says everything about your business it's needs to be entertaining, fresh and stand out. If you hire someone to your marketing team and their personality is stiff as a board, it reflects in the content they put out.

Confident we hired the right person so the method has merit.

Why don't you make them do a silly dance or bark like a dog or hop like a frog next time ?

bfa1509 · 11-12-2018 10:44pm

seamus wrote: »

I wouldn't even be that sold on a cover letter. They're fairly 1980s, you're selling yourself to an employer who doesn't need an employee right now. If I have an open role, then the cover letter goes in the bin and I look at the CV. If I don't have any open roles, both go in the bin.

As said above though OP, unemployment is so low right now, that you should try take an honest look at your approach. Your CV might be crap. It might say more about you than you need it to, for example you don't need to put:

- Your age or date of birth
- Your religion
- Your nationality
- Your address (your location is sufficient, if at all)

It also needs to formatted nicely - clear and readable - with no spelling mistakes. If you know you're no good at this and know someone who IS good at this, ask them to look it over. I'll even do it if you want.

Take a look at your personal approach. If you are going around handing out CVs, you need to be clean. If your hair is a mess, you haven't shaven in 3 days and you're wearing a smelly Megadeth t-shirt and knee-high Docs, then forget about it. You don't have to be wearing a suit - a pair of jeans and a well-fitting hoodie is fine, but at least make it look like you showered and looked in a mirror when you got out of bed.

Don't just walk up and say, "I want to leave my CV in for jobs", hand it over to the receptionist and walk away. It's going into a bin. If you can, ask to speak to a member of management, and if they ask why, just be honest and say that you're enquiring as to whether they have any jobs. You may be told to leave your CV there, that's cool. Or that there are no jobs. Or someone might come down to you and have a chat. In any case, you'll get a better idea as to whether you've wasted your time.

Though online is really the main way now, especially for companies with head offices, like Aldi or Lidl. If they have an online application form, even better, because lots of people won't even go to the trouble of filling them out.

I say +1 to all of this and also add that usually when people hand out lots of CVs, chances are that 90% of what's on it is irrelevant to the employer. Employers (especially HR) read CVs like robots, they just want to match a CV to the position they have going. Some even put them through a software to look for "buzz words". I would say hand out less CVs but put some effort into tailoring them to the position you are going for. If the job has a description, make sure your CV matches it as close as you can and keep stuff that doesn't match it to a minimum.

As others have said, it's next to impossible (unless you have connections) to get a job if you are not currently doing something. I wouldn't even mind the two year gap so much as long as you were doing something currently. And definitely get help with interviews, no matter how many you have done in the past!

Ulysses Gaze · 11-12-2018 10:55pm

OP if you need to upskill, for free, then check out edx.org.

Lots of practical courses here.

fryup · 11-12-2018 11:00pm

rob316 wrote: »

Ugh a CV. We hired recently and I just told anyone interested send me in a video about you, make it entertaining then I'll consider you. We got some mad videos but definitely felt we hired the right person in the end.

Employers should be more interested in someone's character/personality than where they went to school.

Any CV we get in the mail goes straight to the shredder.

Naos wrote: »

What industry is that?

rob316 wrote: »

Office supplies. Boring as **** to be honest so I wanted to see what sort of creativity someone could bring to the job.

Office supplies :rolleyes:

if it was the entertainment industry i would understand...but Office supplies?? creativity?

c'mon now you're taking the p!ss

Raheem Euro · 11-12-2018 11:04pm

fryup wrote: »

Office supplies :rolleyes:

if it was the entertainment industry i would understand...but Office supplies?? creativity?

c'mon now you're taking the p!ss

Filing Cabinets are no longer a purchase. They are an experience.

Turbohymac · 11-12-2018 11:07pm

Hi..I know someone already said retrain..and you said been there Ã—100
I'm absolutely trying to help here..but exactly what skills do you possess.if looking for warehouse work do you have the absolute basic requirements..??? Forklift ticket..safe pass.manual handling ..as bonus do you have clean driving license..references from previous employers..etc..its fine to say I've retrained x 100. But honestly if you target the type of jobs that you are unskilled or qualified to do and you have all relevant requirements and courses up to date ..well I'd find it impossible to believe that you cannot get employment..
Also please ensure your cv is correctly made up otherwise you won't even get to an interview..and when attending interview dress neatly. Take Keen interest in trying to get the job..
If you cant get a job after rectifying any above mentioned issues then I would be amazed..finally because you will be asked at an interview..

Why have you been unemployed for the past 2 years and have you been actively seeking employment ever since..
This might seem harsh to you but an employer will delve into your past work history and dont like any negative issues..
Best of luck.
I absolutely think there should be no issues getting a job at present and especially since you say you're open to anything

whisky_galore · 11-12-2018 11:10pm

Ruraldweller56 wrote: »

One day all this crap will backfire badly. And I for one won't have an ounce of sympathy for them.

Don't get me started on those reprehensible 'meet the team' Web pages that people are coerced into being part of.

I can imagine the management of this place gathered around the screen having a good old chortle over the performing monkey videos.

Pawwed Rig · 11-12-2018 11:15pm

Get a bus/HGV licence. Easy to get work in that field if qualified.

Ruraldweller56 · 11-12-2018 11:16pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

I can imagine the management of this place gathered around the screen having a good old chortle over the performing monkey videos.

Oh that's all that's going on there. It's only an attempt to belittle and degrade the monkey on the video. A lot of these HR "creativity minded" types are the same. Asking nonsensical gibberish like "where do you see yourself in 5 years time", "tell me your 3 biggest weaknesses" and even "if you could be any animal what one and why" just to watch you squirm in the chair for their precious job.

TheQuietFella · 11-12-2018 11:19pm

frosty123 wrote: »

Honest to god...sending out cv's left right and centre, signed up with recruitment agencies, not being in anyway fussy even warehouse work would do and ......nothing, no replies nothing, even aldi & lidl don't wanna know.

Granted i'm long term unemployed (over 2 years) and in my late 30's..but i thought i'd get at least some sort of response esp this time of year, but ..no, zilch!

am i on the scrapeheap for life?

(i'm in the mid-west btw, near Limerick)

You need to apply further afield for employment.
I think that at your age it will be difficult and I'm talking from experience.
We seem to be type casted when we get beyond a certain age bracket!

Can't get a job

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