Get a job and see the world

Sunday Business Post - Recruitment Section - Mar 15 2009

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There are abundant job opportunities abroad, but it is important to think about what a move will mean for you, writes Dermot Corrigan.

Soaring rates of unemployment at home are prompting a growing number of workers to leave Ireland in search of work overseas.

Hamish Reid, a senior consultant in Sigmar Recruitment’s international financial services division, said that more and more candidates were considering emigration as their only means to escape long-term unemployment.

‘‘We have seen more candidates who are more open to moving abroad,” said Reid. ‘‘They tend to have been looking for work in Ireland for a period of time, and then they decide they might want to broaden their options.”

According to the most recent available statistics from the Central Statistics Office, 45,300 people left Ireland to work abroad in the year to the end of April 2008.This is the highest annual emigration figure the country has seen since 1990.

Caroline Kilbane, marketing manager for Ireland with Grafton Recruitment, said she expected a significant rise in the corresponding figure for this year, though it has not yet been published.

‘‘Given the uncertainty in the current labour market, we would definitely expect that more and more Irish people will be searching for job opportunities overseas. We would expect more Irish workers to emigrate due to increasing levels of unemployment here,” said Kilbane.

Stephen McLarnon, chief executive of SGMC Group, said the motivation behind the decision to emigrate was changing for a lot of people. SGMC organises exhibitions showcasing work opportunities overseas.

‘‘In the past, it was people’s choice to leave,” said McLarnon. ‘‘When the economy was booming, people cited the high cost of living, expensive housing and the poor quality of life as a reason for emigrating. In the current challenging economic environment, people will find they have no choice but to leave.”

Popular destinations
McLarnon said that the majority of overseas destinations favoured by Irish emigrants were also bearing the brunt of the global recession.

He added, however, that some had been worse hit than others.

‘‘The global downturn has left no country untouched. However, Canada is stronger than most and job opportunities exist in Australia,” said McLarnon. ‘‘Australia added 1,200 new jobs in January 2009, when all other countries around the world recorded significant growth in unemployment. New Zealand has a big demand for primary school teachers. Dubai has slowed considerably, but opportunities do exist in Sweden and Norway.”

Kilbane said the jobs market in Canada was buoyant.

‘‘Canada is experiencing its lowest unemployment rate in 30 years and enjoying unprecedented economic growth,” she said. ‘‘As labour shortages increase, the Canadian government has introduced numerous migration programmes to locate skilled migrants to fill vacancies from entry-level to senior positions. Between 129,300 and 144,600 visas have been made available for 2009.”




Australia is popular with Irish individuals looking for experience overseas. Employers there look favourably on candidates with good qualifications, according to Kilbane.

‘‘Australia is already an extremely popular destination for highly skilled young people,” she said. ‘‘The country’s economy is strong and Australia is actively encouraging the immigration of skilled migrants. Ski l led migrants wishing to work in Australia are assessed on a points-based system, with points awarded for work experience, qualifications and language proficiency.”

Closer to home

Reid said many Irish candidates looking to emigrate favoured destinations closer to home. ‘‘When people say they are flexible in going abroad, it often means mainland Europe,” he said. ‘‘People like being able to come back every few months. For example, IT contractors who get an excellent daily rate can often commute at weekends or maybe work just four days a week abroad.”

Some financial services professionals were leaving the country on the trail of jobs that had been relocated overseas, Reid said.

‘‘There are a lot of financial services companies moving to Poland, because financial institutions can save money out there,” he said. ‘‘India is another option. People are more likely to consider Poland, however, as India is seen as a different world by some people.”

Letrecia Tippett, a director of Premier Group, said the Channel Islands offered some opportunities in the financial services sector.

‘‘We are getting a lot of jobs in from clients in the Channel Islands, and finding a lot of interest from candidates in those,” Tippett said. ‘‘This is especially true in areas like fund accounting, which has slowed down considerably in the Dublin market. The Channel Islands offer relatively high salaries, and they are close to home.”

Until recently, Reid said the Middle East had offered opportunities to Irish candidates in construction. ‘‘The employment situation is not fantastic in Dubai now,” he said. ‘‘That was a solution for a lot of people in construction, but it is not any more.”

Typical candidates

Kilbane said that the profile of the Irish emigrant had changed in the last 12 months.

‘‘This time last year, the young, skilled, single and flexible element of society was most likely to go abroad in search of work,” she said.

‘‘Their general motivations included broadening their horizons and gaining valuable career experience abroad. However, now more senior and skilled individuals are beginning to think about relocating entire families to obtain a greater sense of security in the face of increasing uncertainty.”

Reid said younger candidates tended to be more open to travelling further to find work. ‘‘It tends to be younger people who would always have considered maybe going abroad anyway, whether to mainland Europe or somewhere like Australia,” he said.

‘‘They feel that now might be a good time to combine taking that year away, and also getting some work experience.” More experienced candidates are more interested in contract positions, with a limited time frame, than permanent relocation.

‘‘Older people who are very experienced would often consider working on a contract abroad,” said Reid. ‘‘They may not be interested in moving abroad permanently, as they have family or other commitments here, but they would consider commuting for a period of time.”

Career progression

Tippett said some individuals viewed a move abroad as a way to fast-track their career progression.

‘‘Some people might want experience or a skill set that they have difficulty getting over here. Hardship posts tend to allow people to jump a few slots in their career,” she said.

Kilbane advised candidates considering emigration to tailor their CV to match the requirements of the overseas market they are targeting.

‘‘Before moving abroad, you need to think seriously about the skills that you have to offer, and identify which countries have skills shortages in your sector,” said Kilbane. ‘‘Skilled migrants will generally find it easier to obtain employment.”

Successful relocation

Tippett, who herself emigrated to Ireland in the late 1990s, advised anyone considering a move abroad to think carefully about all of the implications.

‘‘I know first-hand that, when you relocate to another country, there are a lot of things that you do not think about,” Tippett said. ‘‘People always talk about the fact that changing jobs is very stressful, but so is moving house and moving country. You have to be really committed to doing it.”

Recruiters placing candidates in jobs overseas use a thorough selection process.

‘‘There are very different processes for recruiting somebody who wants to move abroad, as opposed to somebody who is changing jobs in their own country,” she said.

‘‘The job and the money should be the second part of the process. The first part is asking whether you have really considered what it will mean to move.

‘‘Have you discussed the move with your family and friends? Do you have financial or emotional commitments that might stop you travelling? How long are you prepared to commit to being away?

‘‘Have you considered what you will do when, or if, you come back?

‘‘Most people have not thought of all of that. We ask them to go away and think about that, before talking about particular jobs or locations.”

Relocation package

Kilbane advised candidates to talk to potential employers or recruitment agents about relocation packages designed to help them settle into a new environment.

‘‘It is really important to negotiate settlement or relocation arrangements as part of your contract,” said Kilbane.

‘‘A reputable recruitment agency will help you with everything from opening bank accounts to finding accommodation and even finding a school for your children, but services differ.

‘‘Weurge candidates to activate networks, contacts and relatives to gain invaluable insights into opportunities and support systems that may be available in their destination countries.

‘‘Social networking makes this increasingly easier.”

Working Abroad Expo

SGMC Group’s Working Abroad Expo takes place in the RDS, Dublin, on March 21-22 and the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork, on March 26-27.

‘‘The departments of immigration from Australia, New Zealand and Canada will be hosting seminars at each exhibition,” said Stephen McLarnon, chief executive of SGMC Group.

‘‘They will provide unbiased, accurate visa information for each of their countries. This is useful as neither the Australian nor Canadian embassies in Ireland processes migration visas, and New Zealand does not have an embassy in Ireland. Other exhibitors include employers and recruitment agencies covering construction, engineering, medical, nursing, social worker (Britain), financial services (Poland) and service providers such as removal companies, banks, foreign exchange, working holiday providers, TEFL course providers and volunteering overseas and internship services.”