Work scouting - agencies or direct submission

Hi all,

as presented in the other topic I'm a professional with experience in Innovation and Transformation topics, with in the last two years a growing focus on Deep / Machine Learning - powered products.

Decided to pull the plug and starting my search for a new qualified position in Ireland interested to share ideas and experiences, where my first topic is what's the best channel to access these positions.

From my own country perspective recruitment agencies are totally a waste of time, but as I can read they are really active and efficient in Ireland. The other option will be searching for suitable open positions and apply, but the doubt is if these are just a smaller part of the real needs of the company, where you compete with hundred of others and also miss the opportunity represented from a recruiter that in theory does have all the interest in finding the right candidate.

Appreciate any comment or ideas, thanks for sharing.

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I've read your other post and the information you've provided in your Forum information.  To be honest, after 45 years of experience working in both the Public and Private sector, I have no idea what you mean by "Innovation and Transformation topics, with ............... a focus on Deep / Machine Learning - powered products".  Assuming they are from good institutions and relevant to the position you are applying for, your MSc and MBA should put you in good standing in most businesses;  specialising in Risk Management can mean many things, so I shan't comment further on this

As an Italian (EU) citizen, you currently have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, this includes Ireland, so the logistics of moving there should be quite simple.  You say you have been there "many times", so I don't need to tell you about the high cost of living in Ireland.

All that aside, the issue and difficulty will be in long-distance job searching; unless you possess a skill set that is in great demand that cannot be met locally, almost all agencies want people who can start work tomorrow morning, not wait for you to move yourself and family and so be available to work.  The moment they read your CV and realise you are 2,000 km away, many will throw it in the bin; they get paid for filling vacancies and the earlier they can get somebody signed up, the quicker they get paid.

So what can you do?  If you're absolutely determined on moving to Ireland and are certain that your skill-set is in demand, then I'd suggest that you make the move and look for work, then once you have been successful, think about bringing your family over.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thanks Cynic for your useful answer.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovation_management

This is mostly my work, a mix  business and technology strategy, project management, partners development. Useful when you need to create new products or services.
My focus is on products that are not pure digital (i.e. not only websites) but with some physical interfaces (i.e. software use data from sensors). Machine Learning its a hot topic, but I'm not a developer, but an innovation manager and project developer (ideate, propose, design, develop, manage new projects). The risk management topic is mostly about how valuate new projects evaluating and integrating the risk in the final ranking (something it's not often done to be honest).

Yes I know about high cost of living, housing problems etc. I traveled all around Ireland but was some years ago last time, having been only a tourist I also never tried to approach the job market so far.

From what you wrote appear the recruiter path might be the best one. In my initial approaches I answered I'll be available in place in one month. They seems to be pleased, they might be just polite and my profile will be trashed anyway in your opinion?

Hi again,

Unfortunately, I can't follow the link you provided (it's a limit placed on new accounts that will go away after a few more posts).

However, it sounds really interesting and certainly on the curve of where new business seems to be headed.  I still don't know for certain whether they do it in Ireland, but I'm reasonably confident that they must do.  It sounds like you may have luck; just keep a note of the agencies you have already contacted and let them know when you get there.

So, what to do?  Ask your peers about your competition outside of Italy; use Google to identify who the players are, do your research.  You will know whether your colleagues are being head-hunted by multi's, if so, then get your CV updated and start sending it out.  Use LinkedIn, it can be amazingly good at networking - warning - the Premier version costs money and it is not cheap, but as part of your jobseekers toolkit, my opinion is that it's really good and they are currently offering free lead-in.

Don't forget your family, involve them, use their ideas; nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.

I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

If you have any further specific questions, please come back to us.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi Cynic
I have had a couple interviews also with a company searching for a hire out out some dozen of submissions. Will see how is going.
A recruiter told me didn't make sense for me at this stage to invest in a travel since all the initial interviews are done by phone / webconf so will have the opportunity to meet if invited to do so.
My question is if being in place will instead really generate grater interviews opportunities, especially with smaller companies.

Hi again,

From what the recruiter has said, he/she doesn't have anything at the moment, or he would have bitten your hand off to get you set up with an interview, so his advice is sound, there's no point in spending a lot of money with not even a prospect of an interview, let alone a job.

Smaller companies would generally use agencies to fill their recruitment needs, so I wouldn't think your presence is going to improve anything, you're already talking to the people who matter.  The only thing that being in place means is that you'll be on the spot to start work immediately; if you already have a job where you are, then I would stay there, certainly until Brexit is resolved as should the UK leave the EU with no deal, it will almost certainly devastate the Irish economy and I suspect jobs that aren't customer facing will almost certainly be the first to go in those conditions.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Yes I already have a work, simply become dissatisfied with the government national and regional management, the lack of international exposure, the need for zooming around among different sectors to find innovation projects and overcome the limitness of the local market, the dull perspective for my newborn daughter.
Working abroad is my long term dream, I find Ireland the most similar to my country in term of soul, with the advantage of being integrated in the English speaking economy.
Brexit its a big question mark, currently interviewing for a multinational company, the perspective work activity is relevant everywhere.

Any luck so far?? I am also in the same shoes as yours.. I have emailed to many of the recruiters and companies still no posiitve response from them :(

Actually, I have been facing a different issue all together may be being a non EU resident.

Most of the companies have been liking my profile and also responding. however they all demand a Work permit or work VISA to make the offer to me. However when I get on govt portal for work permit, they say get the job offer first.. you know it's kinda CATCH22 situation. :huh: .. super confused! :/:/;/

I hope one day something would work out! Let's all stay connected to help each other! :):)

Cheers!  :cool:
-SA

I have got some interviews with both recruiters and a company. So far no offer.

Currently in contact with one of the recruiters that time by time propose me specific opportunities, happy to have a local expert willing to represent me.

Also applying to some selected interesting positions, as anyone else.

So people, from your experiences do you recommend agencies or direct job application?

In my experience recruiters are professional and helpful, I will stick with them.

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Depends on whether the company you're applying for uses agencies; many don't.  If you don't have a skill that is in demand, you need to use both.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thank you for your replies, Davide and Cynic. I meant doctor recruitment agencies, Cynic.