THE DUNDALK BASED ‘JOB CLUB’ AIMS TO HELP PEOPLE AVOID THE PITFALLS IN THE SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT
THE path to employment can be littered with pitfalls, but thanks to the Dundalk based ‘Job Club’ there is plenty of help for job seekers, no matter what their experience or background.
Leader Martin Noone explains the Job Club offers a wide range of services for the unemployed helping them to overcome the challenges and identify their own strengths and skills.
‘We hold three week workshops which aims to give job seekers the right tools to develop their confidence and the right skills to find employment.’
Having moved to their new base at Partnership Court in early 2017, the initiative which is funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, comes under the auspices of the Louth Leader Partnership.
Most of the participants are referred from the department, having been on the live register, some for weeks, others for many years.
Job Club also offers a one to one ‘walk-in’ service for self referrals, people who feel they could benefit from help and guidance in the search for work.
‘ There is a variety of people we meet, from those who have been out of work for a few weeks, and those who are long term unemployed,’ explained Martin.
‘We see with some people who come to the workshops that they can be nervous at the beginning, but at the end of the three week programme they feel differently about it, more confident about their future and aware of how they can access the help that is out there.’
He explains that the workshops focus on every stage of the job seeking process, from where to look for vacancies to designing the best CV, and vital interview skills.
‘We really stress to people how important it is to have a good CV. In fact the number one mistake people make is that they haven’t tailored their CV to the job they are applying for,’ said Martin.
‘ The second biggest error applicants make are spelling and grammar mistakes on their CV or cover letter. We always emphasise to people that if an employer sees you haven’t taken the time to check for mistakes in a CV or letter, they ask themselves if you would give attention to detail in the job.’
Job Club clients are from all walks of life, he adds, with a wide variation in employment backgrounds. ‘ One challenge that most people face is being able to sell themselves and their skills effectively, being able to stand out from the other applicants so that a potential employer will see they are the best person for the job. We work hard to help them build their confidence and feel equipped with the tools to apply for jobs and go for interviews.’
For Martin, and Job Club assistant Ita Malocca , a key part of the process is in matching people with the jobs that are currently available.
‘We liaise with employers in a range of sectors from construction to retail and sales, security, care, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, admin, technical or engineering and I.T.’
He adds that long after clients finish their three weeks programme at the Job Club, staff remain in contact to advise on any potential jobs that would be suitable for them.
Martin highlights that finding employment is a complicated process, and not simply down to being available for work.
‘For some people, there are huge problems with transport. There may be a job offer there, in Dublin or elsewhere, but getting to the job every day can be a challenge if you don’t drive or have access to a car.’
Indeed the latest census figures back this up, with a higher proportion of households in Louth than those in the State who do not have access to their own motor car, 17.2 % of households have no car, compared with the 15.2% state average.
Despite all of the challenges, the help and expertise are available through initiatives such as the Job Club and the Local Employment Service. For further information contact the Dundalk Job Club at 02 93 56908.