A JOBSEEKERS’ roadshow which took place yesterday was forced to change location because more than five times the expected number of people registered for it.
While many attendees mistakenly went to the Mansion House on Dawson Street in Dublin, organisers had had to change to the Gibson Hotel across the city to accommodate the 600 jobseekers who had pre-registered to attend.
For those who did make it to the correct venue there were mixed opinions on their future prospects.
Des Murphy (53), self-employed, of Stillorgan, Dublin, started looking for extra work after he saw a marked decrease in what he was able to earn.
“I have been working 16-hour days, I haven’t taken a holiday in eight years and I’m still struggling to bring home a minimum wage,” he said.
“I hope I might be able to find some part-time work I could do on the side after coming here.”
Referring to the Government’s jobs initiative, he said: “You can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat, you need money to start jobs, and nobody seems to have any money.”
Anne Doyle, of Baldoyle, Dublin, lost her job in 2009. She had worked since 1973 as a legal secretary. “When I was told I was redundant, it was like a death, it’s a terrible thing to say but that’s what it felt like. The worst thing is the isolation, I love people, and now I could be all day on the internet applying for jobs and not meet anyone. I’m a positive person though so I think I will get something before the end of the year.”
Michael Barrett (26), said having to emigrate is more likely, despite holding a degree in quantity surveying. “There doesn’t seem to be anything, at least not in the construction industry. A lot of my friends have gone to Canada, Australia or the UK. I think you nearly have to [emigrate] to find a job that you want to do,” he said.
The biggest issue with finding work in Ireland, he said, was trying to “get a foot in the door”, as most firms required experience but were not willing to offer any.
Ray McGovern (65) and Colm MacGoldrick (60) were willing to take unpaid placement just to re-enter the workforce. “I’d be happy to work to gain the on-the-job experience that Fás don’t provide,” said Mr McGovern.