Hi IRH. I had an uncle who is a real hi flyer and when I was leaving college he gave me the following advice as to how to get a job. Delivered with typical American panache it boiled down to
"YA GOTTA SHOTGUN THE MARKET!!"
I did... and it's worked many times. It involves:
Write a killer cv. If it doesn't look killer then it isn't. It's not a question of total experience, but experience comensurate with what could be expected under the circumstances. You have plenty of skills - it just a matter of presenting them the best way possible. I've read a few cvs in my time and most leave much to be desired. People put in hobbies and interests for example whereas an employer doesn't give a monkeys about them for most jobs. 1.5 pages to 2 pages max with a good layout. If you fancy it, send yours to me at fazersale@yahoo.ie and I'll give it a once over and suggest improvements if I can
Hit the agencies. All of them. Get the Yellow Pages out and send, by email, this killer cv to any and all of them who are or could be active in the area you want or think you want. I don't know if your in Dublin but no matter, send the cv to all the agencies in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick. I've interviewed in Dublin from a cv sent to a Cork agency.
As soon as they've gone out, phone each of the agencies. Get someone there to extract your cv and have a look. No matter if they have nothing then. The purpose is to establish a relationship with a person and connect your data to you. In much the same way as you would be asked into which forum you want a post to be positioned, establish the areas which the agency should consider you for. It's into their brain you want that - not on a piece of paper. The cv is purely designed to be sent to an employer the agent feels your suitable for. Getting them to send it is your task in talking to them. Ask them is there anything missing. If there is, adapt it and send a new copy to them immediately
1 week after the first phone call, ring again. You can now ask for the specific person. Nothing long winded: just "any joy/keep me in mind"
And so every week.
The agency might invite you in for a chat without any job in mind. Do it. It helps establish relationship. Ireland has got fat and lazy. Hunger is not as common as it used to be. You may lack in experience but hunger can do a lot to make up for it. Employers love employees who are raring to go. As the good book says: Don't hide your light under a bushel
After a month, send the cv again. The way its supposed to work is that computers do matches with key words (worth thinking about during cv formulation). But it doesn't. I've seen jobs advertised by agencies who I've been with and the match would be perfect but no phone call from them ?? I'd phone up and the interview for that job would follow straightaway
It's all about a wide cast net, forming relationships, follow up....and determination
You will start getting offered interviews. Take them. Even if the job is unattractive, do the interview. a) the practice will come in handy b) you keep the agency happy. There is no onus to take a job but if you turn down 2 or 3 then the agency will lose interest. No problem if you've lots of agencies on the boil
(its okay to say that you are registered with 4 or 5 agencies if they ask. Just don't tell them it 50 agencies..and it should be 50 agencies). You may find different agencies come to you with the same job. Just tell them you've already applied heard of it from elsewhere
Expect to hear 'NO' alot. Don't be disheartened. There is a job there for you, it's just matter of finding it. 30 NO's doesn't mean 31 won't be YES. Don't stop the programme, keep it going every week. Even doing this gives hope.
Set up a couple of profiles in Irishjobs.ie, one for each branch you'd like to work in. Read the jobs and get a feel for the language, terminology of recruiters/employers. It can be used in phone calls, interviews and cv upgrading
Fish in a barrel mate...fish in a barrel