In this article an Individual Member of the INOU writes about their journey to find employment in Ireland. I moved from America to Ireland in 2006. I came from a background in healthcare as an Occupational Therapist and when I arrived here my qualifications were not recognized.
I floundered for a few years as I did not know what to do or how to go about seeking help in this country. Fortunately, I went to a Citizens Information Center in the town where I lived, and they were so helpful. They helped me apply to get my credentials recognized here and when the denial came back, they help me write a letter of appeal. However my credentials were not accepted and I was still out of work. They pointed me to the INOU website and provided me with information on courses I could take to upskill and how to get help and assistance from the Department of Social Protection.
I moved in 2009 to Galway and have been doing a CE Scheme through Youth Work Ireland. One of the hardest things about this process of moving to a different country was finding out how nothing was connected up, and how you had to go to so many places to get help or information instead of to one main place. I am currently in a CE scheme with Youth Work Ireland with my placement at the South Connacht Citizens Information Services in Galway. I have utilized all the learning opportunities that have been made available to me and because of this I am working towards being able to apply for a role as an Information Officer within the Citizens Information Service.
I would recommend anyone to take advantage of any learning opportunities offered to you. The INOU offers fabulous courses and these can be paid for via your CE Scheme. There are so many courses and avenues available and you have to be open to exploring things that you may not want to but that will benefit you.
One of the things that has been hard for me is the number of jobs I applied for where I got no response back. Also, age discrimination is very obvious as I used to list my birthdate on my CV, but when I took it off, I got more offers for interviews than before. While I still may not get the job, I at least have a chance once an interview is offered regardless of my age.
I am at a place now where I can continue to grow and learn and look for employment. I am gaining confidence in my skills and have now been able to start taking call backs and following through on providing information to our customers. I am glad I was able to do a CE Scheme with Youth Work Ireland and the placement with Citizens information has been such a good fit for me. I have learned so much and look forward to my next journey within the Citizens Information Service in Galway.