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Are you coming back to Ireland for good? You'll need a job then

Some tips to help get you back to work as soon as possible.

DID YOU SEE Dublin Airport’s tearjerker video of the O’Connor family earlier this week?

Dublin Airport / YouTube

Carmel O’Connor topped her family’s airport surprise by telling them she wasn’t returning to Australia. She was staying at home – for good.

And she’s not alone. As opportunities begin to open up in Ireland again, more and more citizens are returning from the lands they fled to during the recession.

But the recruitment process – after being out of the employment landscape here for so long – can be daunting.

We sat down with recruitment specialists Noel Group to get some tips for those hoping to stay on the island in 2015.

The firm is planning a campaign around a ‘Bring Them Home’ theme.

Business Manager Jerry O’Sullivan explains, “We are working to create the awareness that Ireland is home and the jobs are here.

“We have seen a surge of vacancies in all our divisions so we need unskilled and skilled staff. We place all nationalities that have legal status to work in Ireland – but, as always, clients like to have Irish candidates as well.”

O’Sullivan shared these five tips with us for those returning home and looking for work.

1. KEEP IT SHORT

We hear this all the time – but it is true. Your CV should be short, snappy and concise. There should be no ‘fancy stuff’, meaning coloured ink or pictures.

2. EXPLAIN YOUR BREAKS

Many people coming back from abroad will have taken up work outside their ‘usual’ career – or not worked at all.

It is important to explain and not hide these experiences. They could have been because of travelling or visa restrictions.

Employers have no problem with breaks from careers but they just need to know. This is especially in some sectors which have to adhere to certain regulations, such as nursing.

3. POSITIVES OF TRAVEL

Even if you haven’t worked every day (or any day) of your time away, there could have been value in your experiences.

Employers want to know if you have self-financed the trip and what you have done along the way. But this can be kept for interviews – not your CV.

4. UP-TO-DATE REFERENCES

If you’ve been away a while, it’s understandable that your references will also be out of the country. Again, employers don’t mind.

But make sure they include up-to-date phone numbers and emails. Written references are acceptable but they will always be verified.

It is also helpful to include website links to the place of work because it might not be well-known to an Irish audience.

5. CONTRACT CAN BE KING

Some people shy away from temporary work or contracted work but it can offer some major positives. Nowadays, it often leads to full-time and permanent positions. It also gives the candidate time to assess if the company and role is actually for them. We’re hitting a time in the labour market now that jobseekers can be a little more choosy about where they end up – in both skilled and unskilled sectors.

Have you returned home? Do you have any other tips that could help someone in a similar situation? Let us know in the comments section. 

Noel Group work with both candidates and clients and their consultants all work within the field the recruit for. They offer CV clinics and interview practice to all candidates. They won three awards at the National Recruitment Federation Awards in 2014, including the Best Large Agency and the Hospitality and Events Agency of the year. 

More: Family surprise daughter with lovely Christmas homecoming at Dublin Airport

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    Mute Declan Moffet
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:29 AM

    Having lived abroad in the UK, US and Australia over seven years I returned home for good over Christmas 2010. I was out of work for a few months but my savings and family’s support got me through it. People told me I was mad going back without a job but it has been the best decision I have ever made. I’ve been in full time work for four and a half years since and also bought a house, and gotten married. You only have one life , live it where you want, a job is only a job.

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:32 AM

    Well said .

    159
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Dec 21st 2014, 3:09 PM

    Are you tommy tiernans mate with the oranges?

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    Mute Denis Lucey
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    Dec 21st 2014, 6:07 PM

    A classic!

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    Mute Irving Chubbie
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:41 AM

    Employers are becoming quite anal about CVs and then you may be subjected to multiple interviews. By the time you actually get the job you feel like taking early retirement!

    161
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    Mute BERTIE
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:44 AM

    Careful now! After 32 years working I am now unemployed for 12 months for the first time ever. Jobs? Depends what qualifies as a job, min wage, poor contracts etc. I worked for the last 10 years as a Sales Director and a recruitment company rang me a month ago and wanted to know would I be interested in a door to door sales position. If you do manage to find work the austerity measures are going to take the bulk of it from you, directly or indirectly.

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    Mute I LOVE MY COUNTY
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:04 PM

    For a former Director of Sales, you seem to be in a negative place, which I can understand as I once was there. I was made redundant as an Engineer 10 years ago. Fancied a change in career, needed to be active at least, so I Took a 100% commission only sales job doing door 2 door sales for 6 months, loved it, applied for Sales Exec position with which I got 5 years out of and I now work as an Area Manager for a new company and get paid enough to counter all the negative cuts you speak off –
    get back out selling… That’s what good Sales people do. Talented sellers are never long out of work – good luck

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    Mute James Comiskey
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:38 PM

    @Bertie with an attitude like that you can’t be much of a salesman

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:04 PM

    Try selling yourself Bertie, plant some spuds then sell them…..

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:37 PM

    Bertie is correct when he intimates that he would be unsuitable as a door-to-door salesman – I would suggest that it might also be true that he is probably unsuitable for employment of any sort.

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:22 AM

    You’ll need two fecking jobs!!!

    121
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:50 AM

    No jobs in rural Ireland.

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    Mute RonanM
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:44 PM

    There never was in the good times.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:00 PM

    There are plenty of opportunities in rural ireland if people opened their eyes, why import vegetabes when we can grow them.

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    Mute Sarah Jane Colhoun Scally
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    Dec 21st 2014, 3:31 PM

    Chris. ..you couldn’t buy land to grow veggies and make money when you see the price people are prepared to pay for them!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 21st 2014, 7:39 PM

    Sarah, you can always rent a couple of acres……..

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:29 AM

    52 percent tax on income and then water charges and house tax why bother unless really home sick for family and friends.

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    Mute RonanM
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:42 PM

    51% from January isn’t it

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    Mute J
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:50 PM

    Same as every European country then.

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    Mute Séamus White
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    Dec 21st 2014, 3:10 PM
    16
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    Mute howzatme
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:39 AM

    Can all the mood hoovers fock off to Australia

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:35 AM

    Plenty of Call centre work for slave wages and no a family or private life.

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    Mute Stephen
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:49 AM

    So the people who went off for a nice holiday in the sun for 2 years are expecting to come back with a nice job waiting for them. If only life was so simple

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    Mute Jason
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:11 PM

    Here here my thoughts exactly, the neck

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    Mute The Snowball Effect
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    Dec 21st 2014, 4:46 PM

    I went off for a few years but i was working all the time atleast over 60 hours per week , not like the ones who go off to ” OZ ” and suddenly think they have made it in life overnight because they live near a beach and can afford 1$ dollar beer or a box of the cheapest wine known to man, now they are the fools that shouldn’t expect anything when they return

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    Mute Marie McDonald
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:03 PM

    Avoid agencies if you can. There’s more job seekers than jobs and chances are, once you register with an agency, you’ll never hear from them again. Get on LinkedIn and job sites. And up skill if you can, get a qualification – your work experience is not enough for some employers. That’s my advice and experience of last 9 months looking for a job in Dublin.

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    Mute Jason
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:13 PM

    Sorry Marie but I’d say ur advise has been a waste of time ;) as the article wasn’t uploaded by the girl in the clip, it was just a general piece

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:32 PM

    And her comment was just a general response.

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    Mute Mick Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:14 PM

    No idea where these jobs are south east ireland is in its deepest darkest place ever, “our” TD brendan howlin is the first td we ever had that cost us jobs, he is an embarrasment to the founding fathers of the labour movement in wexford.
    Im all for posivite thinking, but dictator kenny telling us it will be ok in the morning is no more that a sad joke, typical power hungry speal from a power hungry moran
    Dont get me started on recruitment agencies, do they not realise that we can see the jobs advertised by the companies? There is no need for them to scrap the internet and repost jobs, in the hope of earning an income from the poorfeckers stupidenough to apply through their websites!
    At the end of the day love your family, make the best of your suitation hopefully you might win the lotto, because theres more chance of that than the elected clowns getting us out of this hole

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    Mute Jason
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    Dec 21st 2014, 3:59 PM

    What jobs as Min Howlin cost on Wexford?

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    Mute Sandra Claus
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:32 AM

    Well as Enda said once the shortest darkest day is over (today) the darkness will fade and the economy will e saved. Cue cheesey Christmas jingle and cgi snowflakes. Merry Christmas everyone!

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    Mute Derek Loogi Lowbridge
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:22 PM

    I came home a few years ago in the midst of the downturn, although work was scarce I took advantage of the training available and up skilled I am now about to begin a one year pre teaching course in network troubleshooting and solutions! It’s well worth getting into if your struggling to find work in your area and are loath to travel out of your environ.

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    Mute johngahan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:33 PM

    if you have the right skills you’ll have your choice of jobs in Ireland. Drastic shortages in multiple sectors.

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:54 PM

    johngahan, Do tell, what sectors? what location?

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    Mute Mick Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:10 PM

    A choice of jobs ….. Love to see that

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    Mute Rory Corbett
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    Dec 21st 2014, 5:27 PM

    Lots of vacancies in Pharmaceutical, medical device and also in IT.

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 21st 2014, 5:55 PM

    Rory Corbett, where are these lots of jobs? I live in the Midwest region

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    Mute Rory Corbett
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    Dec 21st 2014, 7:21 PM

    Hi John.

    Midwest?
    Two spring to mind off

    Ethicon biosurgery have a big plant construction project coming on line in Limerick and are looking for a lot of staff for the facility

    Vistakon also in Limerick are always looking for staff.

    Hope that helps a little..
    I’m sorry I’m from Cork and know the market down here a bit better than the Midwest…

    Happy Christmas to you.

    Rory

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    Mute Jamie O'Connor
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:31 PM

    There are drastic shortages in multiple sectors however most US multinationals want skills and previous experience upfront which often allows them to apply for international visas straight after start-up because of a ‘skills shortage’ in Ireland. Upskilling and gaining experience abroad is a good option but unfortunately often a tough choice for some due to family commitments and also for older job seekers. I don’t blame these companies and global workforce mobility is relevant and beneficial however with the huge number of US multinationals in Ireland and IDA grants etc, sometimes I wonder if it would be good idea of the government/IDA incorporated more provisions for training/onboarding of local job seekers/recent Irish graduates into the IDA negotiations prior to these companies entry to Ireland, considering the tax breaks etc. that they receive.

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    Mute johngahan
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    Dec 22nd 2014, 11:17 AM

    In the US people move state or coast to work in the industry they want a career in.
    In Ireland people complain that their local village in the middle of nowhere doesn’t have tailor-made opportunities for them.

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    Mute Nathan Buckley
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:47 PM

    I have been back from Australia since February. I have applied to about 400 jobs since i have returned. I have been unsuccessful at each point. I have only been called 3 times for interview. I feel there is no hope for me to get a job here. I had more luck getting work in Australia as a labour. Than finding work here.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 21st 2014, 6:14 PM

    The only jobs out there it seems are those who were University educated, that is all this government cares about and Dublin. The rest of the country can swing for jobs as it seems to me?
    It is like Irish Water the government kept shouting about 2000 new jobs but didn’t tell people that to set up Irish Water they had to get rid of 4200 good jobs in the water industry? Strange?

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:07 PM

    Just call centre jobs and a billing system for Dennis O’ and cronies.

    11
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Dec 21st 2014, 7:45 PM

    Does grass stop growing because of austerity….get a lawnmower mate and set up your own business. In the winter people are crying out for cut timber, so buy a chainsaw and get cutting and bagging.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 21st 2014, 6:44 PM

    How can there be jobs here when there is a policy of austerity, the purpose of austerity really is to prevent spending and without spending there is no jobs? Austerity is the opposite of devaluing the euro, which would increase jobs by creating more manufacturing jobs in the same way as China did, they did it artificially by keeping their currency the yuan low to make exports cheap.
    But because we are part of the eurozone and follow what Berlin and Brussels say, we have to follow austerity. A part of austerity that this government doesn’t tell people is that austerity exists to control the value of the euro internationally but that imports and exports especially from manufacturing jobs here would effect the euros value and go against austerity. Therefore our government are told how much we can trade in with imports and exports and because of being in the E.U. using the Euro. So Brussels, Frankfurt and Berlin organises all the countries that we can trade with and who we trade with effects jobs here and they do this without us / Ireland being there at those trade discussions. So all is done behind our backs, we have no say over anything and the government here can’t even wipe their own rear because who we trade with isn’t govern by us but by the E.C. because we lost our sovereignty because we do not own the Euro but only use it and how we use it is govern by the E.U. to control the Eurozone Euro value in austerity and the Euros international value.
    If there was too much jobs here then there would have to be more taxes here to control the growth with more austerity as too many jobs here would damage the austerity used to control the Euros value, explains why the only jobs here are for those who went to university? Remember manufacturing creates exports and this effects currency values and is anti-austeric. I suppose if there were too many jobs here then they could stop banks lending as they did before?

    11
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