Getting Back Into a Career

I am originally from Belarus and have been living in Ireland for the last 8 years. I have an academic background from home. I graduated from Belarussian Technological University, then did a post-graduate course.  I got a PHD in a very narrow field - Rubber Processing. I worked as a lecturer for 2 years then came to Ireland just to try it abroad. I started to work in a restaurant with a hope to get out of there ASAP. It didn't happen because of the need for a Work Permit to change job. After the EU started to widen, the rules of employment got only stricter. A list of Ineligible jobs for us, non-nationals, was created so I couldn't really move anywere.

Meanwhile I got Advanced Cambridge Cert in English and Cert in Supevisory Management. Now, when I have got long term residency in Ireland and do not need a Workpermit any more, jobs are not there. Moreover, after 8 years being out of the field from which I graduated, I think I can't look for any positions in it because all my knowledge is gone. But at the same time not using my education and knowing that I'm capable of more than I'm doing at the moment makes me feel useless and unsuccessful. I'm 36, have two small kids, living in a rural area, would love to make a move but lost completely. Please help if you can.

There are jobs out there for those who want to go for them – I work with people everyday who are getting jobs so I know that’s true.

However, for yourself, it’s more important to decide what kind of job you would like, what it’s going to lead to etc – then you can go for it with real conviction and sell yourself into it. It’s never too late, and with the appropriate support, you will be able to move yourself on work-wise.

To do this you will probably need help from a career coach/consultant. You can access this support from the Local Employment Service for free, and also from FAS, via their Jobs Clubs. Privately, such support would probably cost around 3-400 Euro, for career direction, job search and interview coaching, but it will be worth it. Find someone you like to work with first – ask the coach/consultant to meet up with you initially to see if you can work together and make progress. Perhaps do this with 2 or 3 before you decide who to go with so you can make best use of the money. You make even decide that some study could be the way to go, to get yourself into a more valuable and comfortable career.

Make that move to get help – you are worth it.