How to get your career back on track when returning from overseas..

Returning to employment in Ireland can be one of the most daunting things about coming home, the following article aims to reduce some of this stress...

For many, returning home to Ireland after a period of working abroad can be almost as daunting as leaving. You may have swayed away from your chosen career path during your time away, or are simply struggling to find your feet professionally on your return. Either way, rejoining the Irish workforce does not have to be as difficult a challenge as it may seem. Read on as we discuss some simple steps you can take to make the process easier: 

1) Allow yourself time to settle back in -
Moving home can be a huge adjustment, between unpacking, reuniting with friends and family, sorting out accommodation, etc - sometimes it may not be the time to throw a career search into the mix. Allowing yourself time to readjust to all those elements of being at home is crucial before you move on to embarking on the job search. If you’re trying to do so and you’re not in the correct headspace, then the process will be unduly stressful, more so than it needs to be. Once you ease back into a routine and it becomes the norm, then you can start working towards securing your employment of choice in a much calmer, efficient way. 

2) Consider temporary employment -
When returning home, it may not always be so easy to your ideal role straight away. If you are job hunting but it is taking longer than expected and you are starting to worry about your finances, then temping may be a good option for you to consider. Temporary work is a great avenue to embark on while you research the type of roles you may be interested in. It is also a great way to get a feel for what the company is like and gives you a chance to network and enter a role which will possibly open up doors for you in the future. Temporary opportunities with a view to permanency are on the increase, giving both sides a chance to determine the right fit before committing.

3) Identify your transferable industry experience -
Skills which you gained abroad could be more valuable than you think. Even if you worked in a role which is completely different to your regular career choice, the experience you gained could be easily transferred across to various roles here in Ireland. Strong transferable skills may include leadership/management, customer service, administration, project management, sales, etc. Knowing how to relay these on your CV is an important aspect of returning to the workforce - if you need any advice on this, one of our dedicated consultants at La Crème would be happy to help.

4) Think outside of your industry -
Upon returning from abroad, the industry you worked in before going may not be as buoyant as when you left it. This may mean that you need to look outside of your industry when seeking employment. Reintroducing yourself to your former industry step by step may be the best approach as that way you can grasp an idea of what the market is like without committing fully.

5) Start networking -
Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know. Networking can be a key part of any job search. Reaching out to people, whether it be on LinkedIn, at an industry event or previous colleagues/mentors can often work to your advantage and point you in the right direction. A good recruiter should be able to put you in touch with possible potential employers and opportunities which may suit your abilities. 

6) Start the job search before arriving home -
You can actually start the job hunt before you come home if you wish, our website is constantly being updated with new roles and opportunities and our expert recruitment consultants are regularly posting on LinkedIn with similar content. We can organise an initial phone interview or Skype interview with one of our Consultants to get the process started and we can begin to talk to you about new opportunities coming up. Take a look at our latest jobs here or feel free to get in touch here to find out more about our current opportunities or to discuss temp work.