Job in Northern Ireland - can't for love nor money

Tallulah-32

Hi

I'd really appreciate any feedback anyone can give me please. I do hope that what I've been told is rubbish!

I'm English and I've been looking for a job in Northern Ireland since 2008 mainly through an agency but I have applied for one job (government one) directly. I've fully prepared for the interviews I've gotten and generally got good feedback but the consensus has been that they either want someone who will bring clients with them or that they don't have the budget to take someone on at the moment (the jobs have generally been speculative).

After 2 years continually trying with no success (in a small market) I'm feeling very disheartened that me getting a job in Northern Ireland just may never happen and I need to make a decision.

I've just turned 30 and I want to move over to Northern Ireland because my partner lives there. My parents are also Irish and I have family over there so I also have that connection.

However, maybe I'm using it as an excuse because I'm really rubbish at interviews but I'm starting to get the impression that my age, the fact I want to move to Northern Ireland to be with my partner (I don't mention this in interviews) and the fact I'm not Irish (specifically from Northern Ireland) are all against me. Sounds like self pity I know.

I'm starting to panic because I want to move over to Ireland to be with my partner and settle down but I'm starting to think that I will need to choose between having a family and not working or staying in England and carrying on with my career (in law) but without marriage etc.

Everyday I'm checking job sites; tweeking my cv; preparing for job presentations and keeping up to date with latest developments.

Any perspective would be much appreciated thanks.

Emmzi

you will have more luck if you move then apply I am afraid. Agencie are always seeing people who swear they ill relocate and then actually won't, or need 3 months to sell their home, or want a holiday first.. you will not be high on the list unless you have very specialist skills.

hcb42

I have always found moving to a new location to be a more positive thing for potential employers.

But you have only applied for one direct job in two years seems awfully low to me. I would think more like 1-2 a month would be required for one or two job offers to stick.

I dont think many companies in this day and age would frown upon you moving to be with a partner, that's what life is about, it might be time to upsticks and move and bite the bullet, and far easier to network and uncover more opportunity that way

rosie383

Northern Ireland can be a lovely place to live. Wages can be generally lower over there, and, apart from housing costs, the cost of living is about the same as in the mainland.
I would be living back there if I had half a chance. I think some of the other posters are right. An employer is much more likely to take you on if you are actually living there.

Tallulah-32

Hi
Thanks for all the replies I really appreciate it! I'm a solicitor and firms don't seem to advertise directly they appear all to be through agencies.

I know I need to submit a speculative cv directly to the relevant partner in a firm but I guess I'm afraid that if I do that (and send my cv to all firms who have a department in my speciality) and get no or negative feedback then I'll be stumped about the future of my relationship. I love my partner very much.

I currently work for local government in England but there isn't the same set up in Northern Ireland as the Council's over there don't have legal departments so I am coming from a different position.

On my cv I put my boyfriend's address down (I'm there every weekend anyway) but obviously prospective employers can see that I currently work in England.

Some people say that it is easier to get a job when you're in a job so I don't know.

I think I'm going to go to an career coach either in England or Northern Ireland to help me write a knockout covering letter and help with interview skills. I'll then submit speculative applications (I know that agency fees are off putting to employers especially in this market) and see what happens.

I'm now just waiting to receive the letter saying I didn't get last weeks job which would have been my dream job.

Awww well I've a lot to be grateful for. Sorry for rambling!!!

Slinky

Why are you hiding the fact that you want to be with your partner - I would have thought that this is a positive rather than a negative. Are you thinking they think you'll be stinging them for maternity leave within months of accepting a post?

The boyfriend's address and your UK job location is probably the cause of the uncertainty. Emphasise the family connections and the longing to return 'home' as why you want to have a job in NI.

eamon

Don't expect to find much joy in the public sector, cut backs etc. You won't find many large legal firms in NI the population size wouldn't support it. Outside of Belfast you will find that many solicitors tend to be self employed one man bands running their own practice.

Additionally depending on where you gained your qualifications you may need to go back to school. The following link will help. If you haven't already done so then I would be surprised.

http://www.lawsoc-ni.org/

Tallulah-32

Thanks again for the replies all.

Slinky that's my worry - my age etc they'll think I'll get pregnant then maternity leave.

I got feedback on the job I went for last week and I'm the "reserve". I knew I hadn't got the job but I thought the interview was awful so I'm happy that I did better than I thought.

Eamon I can practice in Northern Ireland. I'd love to work in the public sector is that is where I currently work. The job I went for last week was in the public sector.

I know Northern Ireland is a very small market but I refuse to give up just yet. I need to stay positive.

Thanks all

Nicki

I was born and brought up in Northern Ireland but now live in England. My recollection of living there, and my experience of going back on visits now with my english husband and English sounding kids, is that the englander is regarded as a foreigner, and there do tend to be preconceptions about what they are like based solely on the fact they sound different. So the english are widely regarded as unfriendly and standoffish in NI and also to look down on others.

In addition I am a lawyer who did my degree and practise in England. The NI legal system is quite different than the English one both in terms of which laws are enacted there, and also in the procedure. Even if you are technically qualified to practise there you won't have this practical experience and so I imagine you will struggle to compete against locally qualified candidates. I know that when a case came up against one of my clients which was to be heard in NI, my firm always instructed local solicitors to deal, even if technically competent to do it themselves, as the legal culture was so different there, and who you know was as important, if not more so, than what you know.

If you really want to relocate, would another professional job be an option? Having legal experience qualifies you for a lot of other roles too, and it might get over the fact that legal circles in the province are very insular.

Tallulah-32

Guess I'm screwed then.