Advice for getting a job to Unimmigrate?

1. 66

   cfinposted 10 years ago

   I have spent almost a full year online constantly looking for a job back in Ireland. Lots of opportunities but no one will touch someone who currently lives abroad. I am losing my mind after 3 years of culture shock and am worried sick that I'll be stuck abroad forever. I have a young family, have great experience and there are many jobs there that ask for less than I am offering. I even had interview offers that suddenly disappeared when they found out my address.
   We want to move back to Oranmore, Co.Galway or anywhere really once it's in ireland where all our relatives are. There are many reasons why, but it seems impossible to get a job from a far. Tired, frustrated and starting to feel defeated. Any tips? Do HR people just toss away my resume/CV when they see my address? Ugh, I dunno. I've been very creative, have worked in a niche industry to make myself valuable within it and still have been shunned by the employers there.

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   1. 87

      Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I understand your situation.  Unless they've done it, no one really understands what it feels like to move abroad to work. I think we all assume that fundamentally, the world isn't that different wherever we go - and it's a real shock when you go to another country and find that it IS incredibly different and that in spite of all your high hopes and optimism, you hate it. 
      
      Unfortunately the only way out may be to move back to Ireland alone, live in cheap accommodation until you find a job, then send for your family.   Speaking as a former people manager, here are the reasons:
      
      - It's a lot of extra hassle to hire an applicant from overseas.  It's going to cost money to phone you and your referees, not to mention (depending where you are) the inconvenience of time difference - and how do I  interview you?    Teleconferencing costs money and is never quite as satisfactory as a face-to-face interview. 
      
      - I'm going to have to wait for you - if I hire you, are you really going to be able to start work in a month's time, like a local applicant can?  You may say so, but I'm worried that you'll be distracted, getting your family settled, finding a new home, buying a car, sorting out your tax etc etc. so I won't get 100% of your attention for the first few months.   I can't afford to give you more time to get settled in before you start - staff is cut to the bone these days, and it's difficult enough being one man down for a month.   If I have to wait two or three months for you to get here, I'd rather settle for a second-best candidate who can start tomorrow - I just can't afford to be short-staffed that long.
      
      To get over those obstacles, you need to be outstanding compared to local applicants.   You may be able to change employers' perception of you by improving your application.  Are you sure your CV is properly put together?  Are you writing a "killer" personalised cover letter (where you've analysed the job ad and explain, in bullet points, exactly why you meet every one of the criteria they're looking for?). 
      
      I suggest you also need to give the impression you're all geared up and on the brink of flying home anyway, whether you get the job or not. You could close your cover letter by saying something like, "I am planning to relocate my family back to Ireland in (whatever next month is) but I could be available to start work earlier if required".    If the employer thinks you 're sitting back waiting until you get a job before starting the ball rolling, they'll worry it will all take far too long.

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      1. 66

         cfinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I would start in 3 weeks time.
         
         Regarding telecommunications, Skype is free. I would also fly in for an interview overnight if needed.
         
         Also, I have personalized Cover letters and have VERY specific experience in the academic research sector. One job was my exact fit exact I am over qualified. I guess it just comes down to them now wanting to make the effort. Just yesterday I found a recruiter who specializes in my situation and I'm hoping it helps.
         
         Like seriously, if someone will fly in for the job, has more than the experience required and will not have any hassle regarding the proximity, it is really rude that they don't consider my applications. They are spitting in the face of their own "equal opportunity employer" statement. Heck, I could even lie and put any Irish address down and they wouldn't know any better. Just the fact that I'd fly in for their job shows how enthusiastic I am.
         
         Regarding why I moved back, i was never enthusiastic about moving here and did so for our childs immigration reasons. My wife also wanted to move their initially. I guess it just hit home recently that we might be stuck now.

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2. 68

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   In many industries they are just not going to hire someone who is resident overseas.  I've been there. Maybe trying offering a Skype interview in case they had not thought of that.

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   1. 66

      cfinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I work in a specific industry where it's quite international. i.e University administration, recruitment, budgeting etc. There are specific jobs in the Irish market that look for people like me, to appeal to student from other countries and they need this specific experience. I am also managing an entire department's administration, have a good education and my experience is hefty. They just won't bother dealing with me, even though I could lie and say i live there and they wouldn't know any better.

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3. 76

   Uzochukwu Mikeposted 10 years ago

   How I wish I can help but do not have much experience on this. Keep applying and back them up with prayer.

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