Apr 26, 2020

Do you need a haircut - Covid-19 & Job resources - Issue #31

By Katleen Bell-Bonjean • Issue #31 • View online

Hello all,

Welcome to Edition 31 of Galway Job Connector’s Newsletter!

My last newsletter dates from February 2019 ! Shortly afterwards, on St. Patrick’s Day, I slipped and fell and dislocated my shoulder. It would be another 9 weeks before I could start typing again.. and then life and work took over.

I am delighted to report that there are 438 subscribers to my newsletter , nearly 2700 followers on Facebook and 975 followers on Twitter. Come and say hello:)orwhy not share with a friend that is looking for a job in Galway.

Check out my previous 30 newsletters on this platform , on Mailchip and on Tinyletter where I covered a lot of ground such as the types of industries there are in Galway and lot’s of other insights,including remote working opportunities and housing issues.

Ok so what do I have in store for you today?

27(!) years ago this September, I moved from Belgium to Ireland with a backpack. I moved from Dublin to Galway a few years later, and have been here ever since. I have had a keen interest to figure out where the jobs are, and what skills employers are looking for. You’ll find resources in this newsletter, such as newspaper articles and links to search engines and websites and a free job bulletin to help you in your jobsearch.

In my next few newsletters, I will delve deeper on how I go about finding a job in Galway and how to get the most of the websites/search engines ! Stay tuned!

Pre COVID-19

Unemployment rates were hovering around 5 % which is very low , considered near full employment, meaning that employers were struggling to fill positions, and it was an employee’s market.

Ireland is close to 'full employment', new CSO figures show

This is a sharp fall from the height of the recession when it hit almost16pc. The Central Statistics Office’s latest figures show the unemployment rate stood at 4.4pc last month, down from 4.6pc in April.

www.independent.ie • Share

COVID-19 arrived

Schools and Universities closed their doors Thursday 12th of March, followed by businesses considered non-critical. St - Patrick’s day was cancelled ?! Anybody else ‘s job that could be done from home, was instructed to work from home. To find out what’s considered a critical /essential business according to the Irish Government , check out this Link. The Government introduced a 12 week COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment , over 500 000 people are availing of these payments. Unemployment rates, seasonally adjusted due to Coronavirus are around 18% and rising. As a reference, at the peak of the recession, unemployment rates were at 15.5% Ouch….

Websites to check

COVID Response Jobs Ireland

This site was created to connect displaced workers from recent business closures with front line jobs in healthcare, retail, supply chain, FMCG, life sciences, MedTech, customer support, infrastructure and IT, to support keeping Ireland’s supply chains working during the COVID-19 situation. created by Sigmar Recruitment and supported by The Irish Times , Communicorp, Alison and Candidate Manager.

www.covidresponsejobs.com • Share

Remote Jobs Ireland

Remote Jobs in Programming, Customer Support, Design, Marketing and more based in Ireland. As I mentioned earlier, working from home has ( all of a sudden) become the norm for many! I am part of a bunch of people who believe remote work is a powerful tool for community development. We’re mostly interested in rural areas and permanent (employed) remote work. Check out www.growremote.ie and sign up to their Newsletter View ( and also add) remote jobs ( for free) in Ireland. Various webinars that were recently held on their blog cover the ins and outs of what remote work is all about, where to find jobs, what to watch for and much more.

remotejobsireland.com • Share

Home - Health Service Executive

Healthcare professionals from all disciplines who are not already working in the public health service are asked to register to be on call for Ireland. We will be creating extra hospital and care beds and will need extra hands to provide the care that’s needed. We need your help to meet the challenge that’s ahead. Maybe you aren’t a healthcare professional, maybe you’re studying to be one, or maybe you have other skills to offer or just want to volunteer to do your bit if needed. Some paid roles.

hbsrecruitmentservices.ie • Share

All 'jobs announcements' news | Silicon Republic

Bookmark this link, as it lists all important new jobs announcement, some of them also hiring remotely

www.siliconrepublic.com • Share

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Volunteer Ireland

Would like to volunteer in your community, sign up to this website!

www.volunteer.ie • Share

Other Resources

Check out the weekly Job bulletin, published on a Thursday by Galway Rural Development This is a unique resource to get an overview of jobs advertised in local papers, some online jobs, combined with information about CE schemes and training opportunities. Subscribe at the bottom of their page http://www.grd.ie/

Thank you for reading my 31st Newsletter! Does it have (some) information you are looking for? Or what information are you looking for? If you are interested in a more detailed conversation in your job search, or want to advertise a job or sponsor my newsletter, drop me an email

Greetings from Galway,

Katleen

Check out our little paint project:)