Come back to Cork for Christmas and stay for a career

CORK is calling its diaspora home for good at a major recruitment fair taking place in the Maryborough Hotel on December 29 next - part of a national campaign that will similar fairs taking place at three other centres on the day.

The Home for Work campaign is now targeting Irish emigrants across the globe with the aim of letting them know that ‘ the lights are back on’ at home. That’s the message from campaign ambassador Hector Ó hEochagáin this week as he highlighted the opportunities now under focus.

“This is a really important campaign. After having travelled across the globe for years and met Irish people working abroad, we have to let these talented, skilled professionals know the country has turned the lights back on and that work and good jobs are out there once more,” said Mr Ó hEochagáin.

“Let’s hope the country has turned the economic bend again and the road ahead looks good. We need to entice our Irish Home for Work, for their families and for their country,” he added.

Recruitment events will be held at the same time (from 10am to 1pm) in Cork, Athlone, Galway and Sligo on December 29.

The events are being run by Recruitment and HR Services Group Collins McNicholas, whose experts will be on hand to offer advice as well as job opportunities to people considering returning home.

Collins McNicholas will be recruiting for a range of roles including Science Professionals, Engineers, Accountants, IT Specialists, Human Resource Professionals, Administration, Sales & Marketing.

Attendees are asked to bring their CVs so they can be matched with opportunities available. There will also be advice on other aspects of settling back into living in Ireland – from tips on the property market to banking options.

The events are aimed at Irish people living in Canada, Australia, the EU, the US and across the world who have been considering making the move back home.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the number of immigrants with Irish nationality in the year to April 2016 increased by more than 74 per cent on the previous 12 months. Rory Walsh, Regional Manager of Collins McNicholas in Cork said: “This is the time of year when people feel the pull to come home and they start to wonder if there are alternative opportunities at home.

“Many people who are considering coming home for good are those who have been living and working abroad for a few years, they might now want to settle permanently and feel they want to settle back home. We held a smaller event in Galway last year aimed at people home for Christmas and it was a huge success.” The Cork event will take place from 10am to 1pm.