Your CV and seeking work
Written for SA2Eire by a member
My father-in-law has a saying that he learnt from the monks in a Mozambique monastery.
“The body must feel what the mind does not want to learn.”
I’ve come to modify this statement:
“The wallet will feel what the mind won’t learn.”
This is my dramatic introduction to a post I did not really want to write.
On the surface, it reads negatively, but it may also be the most positive and galvanizing post for anyone wanting the hardcore truth, and receiving it as such.
MOVING TO IRELAND – Things to be aware of!
There are a couple of key boxes you need to check when considering coming over to Ireland.
- Research and understand the reality of moving country, culture and company
- Understand the costs involved: emotional, physical, financial, and dare I say spiritual
- Understand that while some experience fairy tale relocation, others experience the horrors of it all
- Understand that there is a housing crisis that is continuing to escalate daily. Very few houses for rent, especially in the built up areas. Side note: while the countryside sounds romantic, it will be terrible for most children who need access to activities and social connection.
- Understand that you have to clean your own toilet, house, and wash and iron your own clothes.
Once you’ve checked all these boxes and you still feel the pull to take on the challenges and rigours of relocation, then level 2 awaits.
Unless you are financially free, you will have to find a job.
The thinking of “I’ll do anything, pack shelves if I have to” is fundamentally flawed. Admirable, but flawed.
Firstly, the salary to pack shelves WILL NOT cover your monthly bills if you have a family.
If you need aftercare for your child or children, you’ll need four shelf-packing jobs to afford it. Not physically possible.
You cannot simply walk into a bank and get a loan. Your family back home probably won’t be able to assist you because of the ZAR to EUR exchange rate, which is not getting any better.
You are on your own. Pause a moment and think about that. On your own.
“Nonsense,” you might say. “That won’t happen to me. I’m a fighter, I’m a go-getter and I have years of experience in different fields.”
Here’s a reality check. I’ve seen it happen a number of times to highly capable people. People don’t care about your experience or that you’re a nice person. They care about whether or not you can solve their problem.
If you land here with limited funds and you start off in a B&B, you will burn through rands faster than fast.
Remember, you are not entitled to a rental. So if you cannot find one, how long will you survive paying B&B premium rates?
I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it is ridiculously difficult and challenging.
Now that you’ve made it through the first and second levels of this post and are still determined that Ireland is the place for you, let’s address a few more key boxes that need to be ticked.
LOOKING FOR WORK
PLEASE NOTE: Who is allowed to work in Ireland?
South Africans holding SA passports no longer have visa-free access to Ireland. If you are a South African passport holder, you will need a valid employment permit before you can work here. You cannot arrive and look for work on the ground without one already in place.
The only people who can enter Ireland and seek work freely are Irish, British and EU passport holders, and their spouses once the relevant visa and IRP card process is complete.
If both you and your spouse hold South African passports, one or both of you will need a valid work permit. This is not optional and it is not something you can sort out after you arrive. Plan this before you travel.
Then, before you start blasting every recruiter with your CV, consider the following:
Make it count, because you may only get one shot. It makes sense to do it right the first time because there may not be another.
Companies are not holding their breath waiting for your CV.
Doesn’t matter what field you’re in, get your CV sorted.
If your CV does not stir curiosity or interest, you won’t get the response you want.
You don’t necessarily need a professional CV writer to do that. Just make sure you answer the key questions in the employer’s mind about your suitability in a clear and concise manner.
SA2Eire offers a free template that you can download today. For people who have subscribed to SA2eire’s website it’s €10 once-off. No brainer.
What I want to point out is that you don’t have an unlimited number of opportunities to apply and reapply to a recruiter or specific company. Make your first shot your best shot. If you’re going to cross the desert, don’t buy the cheapest camel.
Let’s assume you make it through to an interview.
I can guarantee you this:
YOU WILL ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT THIS.
Not preparing for an interview is one of the most common mistakes people make.
You cannot just show up thinking that’s all you have to do.
Coming across as unprepared, ignorant, unsure and unprofessional will immediately disqualify you from that opportunity.
If a recruiter forwarded your CV on your behalf, they will also lose faith in you and not refer you to other clients who trust them for high-quality candidates. They don’t want to risk losing a client over someone who is not prepared to take the necessary steps. This is really serious.
What to do:
- Research the company: products, services, competitors, leadership, special projects, culture and values. Remember, you’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you. You don’t want to end up in a role that drives you bonkers. Research, research, research.
- Know the legalities and processes required for them to sponsor you. This is your responsibility, not theirs. If they sense you have no idea about the country, culture, visa requirements or cost of living, how are they supposed to entrust you with a role in their company?
- Know your applicable value. Be clear in your mind about where you fit in and what you bring to the table. People are not mind readers. You need to articulate your value in a believable way. This is not selling yourself. This is explaining how you can add value.
The answers to all their questions should be short and to the point. Less is more.
Statements like “just give me a chance and I’ll prove to you…” don’t work and won’t work.
Take the time to think about your answers. This requires preparation. Google potential questions and answers.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
- Over-confidence is a big no-no
- Low confidence: speak to me about this
- Arrogance: definitely no
- Entitlement attitude: you’re toast
The Irish, based on my personal experience, are very conservative and don’t respond well to attitudes that hint at a difficult personality.
Even though you may have more degrees than the recruiter or interviewer, bring patience, respect, mindfulness and enthusiastic interest, with a genuine willingness to add value.
If you connect on a level of trust, professionalism and respect, you will gain favour and you will be successful.
IN SUMMARY – Get the boxes ticked
Don’t be the person who gets handed a golden opportunity to interview for a perfect role and loses it because of:
- No preparation
- No information
- No consideration
There is a short road and a long road to ticking all the boxes.
- The long road (trial and error): do it yourself. Risky.
- The short road: book a session with Vicky and Megan to get the legalities and processes explained. The cost is ridiculously low.
Don’t confuse their fee with the value gained. Their session will save you time, headaches, rejection letters, money and emotional distress. You cannot put a rand value on that. A complete no-brainer.
This whole adventure is daunting but doable. Just tick all the boxes and you’ll be fine.ble, just tick all the boxes and you’ll be fine.
