With employment on the rise, the trend for people leaving the country to find work is starting to shift. Instead, we are swapping images of teary eyed family and friends waving goodbye, for more frequent images of joy and celebration at the arrivals hall. While this is great news for the country - and for families who spent years thinking about time zones and Skype – coming home requires some preparation.
- Beware the reverse cultural shock
Beware the reverse cultural shock...
You have been warned … returning home to Ireland from Vancouver I found myself roaming the streets of Cork looking for a good Sushi restaurant! This part of the process is rarely talked about. There will be less interest in that time you went volcano boarding in Nicaragua and more interest in ‘have you got a job yet?’ and ‘are you planning on living at home?’
- Start the process early
Start the process early...
Looking for accommodation and a new job is a task that can seem daunting. Talk to people prior to returning. Talk to former colleagues and college friends working in your area. Register with recruitment agencies and free services like One Tribe. Use every resource you can to make your life easier.
Read more: 7 reasons Ireland is one of the best places to work
- Avail of every available lead
Avail of every available lead...
Such resources don’t have to be restricted to people you know. You can crowdsource your search for jobs and accommodation with ease through websites like Quora, Boards.ie, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Use any online means available to you to investigate job opportunities in your area of interest.
- Be realistic
Be realistic... You're home, now get to work.
Most of the time you will need to be in the country to secure a position. You will be able to put the feelers out before you move, but realistically the final hiring decision won’t come until you are back on home ground.
Read more: What you need to know about preparing for a job interview in Ireland
- Choose a specific role
Choose a specific role... what do you want to do?
Pick your area of expertise and apply for positions that realistically apply to your background and experience. Nothing is more disheartening than applying to everything and anything with no reply.
- Don’t lose track of applications
Don’t lose track of applications...
As you’re doing your applying remotely, it’s easy to make a lot of similar applications. Save the job specification so if you do get that call to interview you can review the job spec to prepare for interview. The selection process for interview may take longer than expected and the ad with all the job details may be gone when you need it the most.
- Stay positive
Stay positive!!
Don’t get disheartened if you don’t get the first position you interview for, your location may work against you for some positions but it won’t always be a problem. No matter where you’re applying for, it sometimes takes even the most seasoned candidate several applications to secure their ideal role. Leaving a settled and secure life for one of uncertainty isn’t easy, but it can be done. Think about the reasons you’re coming home in the first place – family, friends and the roast dinner on a Sunday. Utilise your ready-made support system to make you feel more at home and before you know it things will start to fall into place.
Find your reason to come home.
Sign up for Cpl Job Alerts at cpl.ie
Read more: How to make your job search do the hard work for you
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