Making a move to live and work outside Ireland might in the current economic climate make good career sense. With the lack of jobs and the many predictions that the recovery will be slow, moving to locations could be the only way to either find a new position or develop your career. Whilst the so called “New Ireland” of recent years saw a halt to emigrating we also had many Irish return to the boom. In addition we had many new nationalities come here over the last 10 years to fill the jobs we could not find people to do. The real possibility now is that we could be heading back to significant emigration but hopefully not to the level of the 1980’s etc.
The first and most important thing you should do is research all the locations you are considering moving to. Factors such as language, availability of work, cost of living should be key elements of this. If it is a country within the EU then you will not have any problems around legal entitlements to work. Outside that you will have issues around working visas. Most of this can be done on the internet. It is very easy now to find the most popular sites for jobs, accommodation as well as the attractions in each location. You can even talk to recruitment agencies here in Ireland as many are either part of large multinationals or the independent firms that have strategic relationships with other recruiters based in those locations. There are also some firms who when they recruit can put you in contact with local firm that can assist you with relocation. It is also a good idea to find out your salary value and the current tax structures.
We know that many of our more recent immigrants have returned, most particularly people coming from Eastern Europe. One of the positive aspects for some is the countries they are returning to are in better shape than our own. There has also been a trickle of people moving to the old favourites such as the UK and Australia. Numbers would be considerably higher but for the current state of those economies. As these countries will see a recovery before we do in Ireland, I would expect the numbers to increase. One of the more open countries at this moment is Canada. They have had a skilled shortage in some sectors for many years and they have not been affected to the same extent as other developed economies. Think about mainland Europe. Germany, France, Switzerland and Luxembourg traditionally attract and welcome international staff and have much to offer in terms of high profile jobs. Communication should not be a problem as English is a corporate language in many organisations and if you can speak some German or French it’s going to be an advantage in everyday conversations.
If you are looking for a completely new experience and a challenge why not look at places in the developing Eastern European countries such as Poland, The Chech Republic or Russia. They are growing and transforming economies attracting foreign investment. Don’t be afraid of the language barrier as the new generation of Eastern Europeans is well educated and the opportunities available there are mainly cross-border projects.
It is always helpful to have an exit strategy. Would suggest that whatever position you take, the role offers skills that you can one day use on your return.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Being Proactive Is the Only Way To Find a Job in the Current Market
“The Celtic Tiger” is gone, fact. Move on. Stories of graduates managing many jobs offers are now in the past. Get on and get over it. So if you graduated in 2008, 2009 or even those of you who will graduate in 2010 will not be presented with career options that have been on offer in recent years. If you have been made redundant or looking to move jobs to enhance your career the same issues apply to you.
Proactive is the key word to being successful in finding a job. As the marketing guru, Jack Trout, put it rightly, we need to “differentiate or die”.
So what’s the best way to create your unique selling proposition and stay ahead of other candidates competing for the jobs? The first thing is that you need to prepare well for all interviews.
What you present on a CV is historical information. Therefore you should have no issues in explaining any piece of information you have provided. This is information that should just flow out of your mouth. People who cannot outline reasons for taking educational or career choices will find it harder to find jobs. Remember the CV will get you the interview, but it is the interview that will get you the job. Build your personal brand in a consistent way and get the basics right: work on an impact, concise but informative CV.
Finding a job is a full time job itself so be systematic and regular: apply for roles advertised in newspapers and job boards, submit your details directly to employers and register with selected agencies. There is no use registering with all the agencies in the city – target those who are experts in your area and can genuinely support your efforts. Approach recruiters even if they are not advertising jobs of interest – new opportunities may arise sooner than you expect. Establish and maintain proactive and positive relationships with them. Do not get on their bad side by complaining they are not presenting you with job opening. Remember they do not have the roles in any number so when they do have a position that will be of interest make sure they have a positive image of you.
Use the art of networking – not all the jobs are advertised in the traditional way and some of them will never hit the job boards. Talk to your friends, ex-colleagues, parents of friends, and whoever might know of companies hiring staff with your skill set, attend meetings or industry events and socialize with potential employers. Get online and make good use of professional networking websites: a profile on LinkedIn is a must nowadays! Position yourself as a motivated and competent professional and market your personal brand proactively. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Xing, YouTube, Twitter, Worky are the modern agorae (marketplaces) and excellent tools not only for a passive presence but also active participation in the world of numerous and very often lucrative opportunities. Benefit from them and join industry groups, share your views and opinions on discussion forums, present your expertise and increase your profile. This could draw the attention of potential employers and may result in interesting job offers. One major side effect can however be what your post. Be warned that improper comments or photographs can come back to haunt you.
Get your name out there on Twitter and let people know that you are looking. However, it is important that the internet world does not overshadow the reality. Remember – nothing will replace “old fashioned” phone calls and face-to-face meetings. Human side of things in the recruitment game will always be vital. Learn about managing your emotions and coping with rejections. Don’t treat them personally; make good use of the feedback provided, always ask what could have been improved to be successful next time. Stay positive, enthusiastic and persistent. Remain focused. Remember that each “no” is a great opportunity to learn something new and turn it into a “yes” sooner than you think. So don’t give up, reinvent yourself and differentiate from other candidates by being proactive in the best way possible.
Be prepared to consider positions below your expectations in this current market. The minimum wage is higher than the dole and many people that worked in the 80’s are key hirers today and many of them would have started jobs that gave them skills that are of high value in their current work place. Here I am talking about communication and interpersonal skills etc.
Finding a job nowadays is not impossible – good luck!
Proactive is the key word to being successful in finding a job. As the marketing guru, Jack Trout, put it rightly, we need to “differentiate or die”.
So what’s the best way to create your unique selling proposition and stay ahead of other candidates competing for the jobs? The first thing is that you need to prepare well for all interviews.
What you present on a CV is historical information. Therefore you should have no issues in explaining any piece of information you have provided. This is information that should just flow out of your mouth. People who cannot outline reasons for taking educational or career choices will find it harder to find jobs. Remember the CV will get you the interview, but it is the interview that will get you the job. Build your personal brand in a consistent way and get the basics right: work on an impact, concise but informative CV.
Finding a job is a full time job itself so be systematic and regular: apply for roles advertised in newspapers and job boards, submit your details directly to employers and register with selected agencies. There is no use registering with all the agencies in the city – target those who are experts in your area and can genuinely support your efforts. Approach recruiters even if they are not advertising jobs of interest – new opportunities may arise sooner than you expect. Establish and maintain proactive and positive relationships with them. Do not get on their bad side by complaining they are not presenting you with job opening. Remember they do not have the roles in any number so when they do have a position that will be of interest make sure they have a positive image of you.
Use the art of networking – not all the jobs are advertised in the traditional way and some of them will never hit the job boards. Talk to your friends, ex-colleagues, parents of friends, and whoever might know of companies hiring staff with your skill set, attend meetings or industry events and socialize with potential employers. Get online and make good use of professional networking websites: a profile on LinkedIn is a must nowadays! Position yourself as a motivated and competent professional and market your personal brand proactively. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Xing, YouTube, Twitter, Worky are the modern agorae (marketplaces) and excellent tools not only for a passive presence but also active participation in the world of numerous and very often lucrative opportunities. Benefit from them and join industry groups, share your views and opinions on discussion forums, present your expertise and increase your profile. This could draw the attention of potential employers and may result in interesting job offers. One major side effect can however be what your post. Be warned that improper comments or photographs can come back to haunt you.
Get your name out there on Twitter and let people know that you are looking. However, it is important that the internet world does not overshadow the reality. Remember – nothing will replace “old fashioned” phone calls and face-to-face meetings. Human side of things in the recruitment game will always be vital. Learn about managing your emotions and coping with rejections. Don’t treat them personally; make good use of the feedback provided, always ask what could have been improved to be successful next time. Stay positive, enthusiastic and persistent. Remain focused. Remember that each “no” is a great opportunity to learn something new and turn it into a “yes” sooner than you think. So don’t give up, reinvent yourself and differentiate from other candidates by being proactive in the best way possible.
Be prepared to consider positions below your expectations in this current market. The minimum wage is higher than the dole and many people that worked in the 80’s are key hirers today and many of them would have started jobs that gave them skills that are of high value in their current work place. Here I am talking about communication and interpersonal skills etc.
Finding a job nowadays is not impossible – good luck!
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