Careers Advice and Further Studies

Comhlámh offers three types of support to returned development, humanitarian relief and human rights workers seeking employment on their return to Ireland from an overseas assignment.

1. The "Careers and Courses" Booklet
2. One-to-One Careers Advice
3. Jobs Notice-Boards
4. THE "CAREERS AND COURSES" BOOKLET
   This publication contains the information presented here in the "Career Advice", and also in the "Further Studies", sections of this website. It is available in printed form by contacting deirdre@comhlamh.org or the Dublin office.
   
   For further information on careers in overseas development and emergencies in Ireland, you might like to contact www.gignos.ch for a copy of their publication by Angela Higney and Piero Calvi-Parisetti "Working in international development and emergency aid".
   
5. ONE-TO-ONE CAREERS ADVICE
   This service offers returned development workers the opportunity to meet a professional careers coach on an individual basis. The coaches, who have good understanding of development work, will assist you in whatever areas of job search you most require support with.
   
   A returnee who met with one of the careers coaches wrote: "I found it extremely helpful and (the coach) gave me a lot of important tips and information".
   
   How do I meet the career coach?
   This service is currently available in Dublin. Comhlámh carries most of the cost for returned development workers, and you are asked to pay €10 directly to Comhlámh as your contribution. To avail of the service contact the Dublin office, and provide a phone number at which the tutor may contact you to arrange a time that suits you both. It is good when meeting the tutor to bring a current version of your CV. The tutors appreciate if you can give them some information in advance about your skills area or what type of job you are seeking so they can prepare for your consultation. Contact deirdre@comhlamh.org
   
   
6. JOBS NOTICE-BOARD
   On our web-site and at our Cork and Dublin offices we maintain jobs notice-boards which specialise in job vacancies in development work (in Ireland and overseas) and in community work and other related sectors in Ireland. Visit the web-site at: www.comhlamh.org/jobs-noticeboard.html

Each of these services are provided thanks to generous support from Irish Aid.

For further information on preparing yourself for the jobs market after an overseas assignment consult "Looking for a Job", Chapter 4 of the "Coming Home Handbook". This is available at our offices and also on this web-site.

JOB-SEEKING ON THE NET

The internet provides a ready source of information on job opportunities in Ireland. Start with the Comhlámh jobs web-page on www.comhlamh.org/jobs-noticeboard.html where you will find this brochure and job ads for areas of work related to development and community work.

Below are listed some of the many web-sites for recruitment
organisations in Ireland. Within most sites there are buttons for selecting specific skills areas and regions of the country.
http://jobfinder.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
www.nicemove.ie is the Irish Times recruitment section
www.irishjobs.ie
www.irishnews.com
www.jobs.ie
www.jobs-ireland.com
www.monster.ie
www.niceone.com
www.recruitireland.com
www.topjobs.ie
www.employireland.com

You may already know the names of some of your potential employers. Their web-sites will usually include a vacancies page.

Some recruitment sites dedicated to specific skills areas include:
www.educational-posts.com
www.itstaff.ie
www.labsupport.com/ie/
www.onassignment.com (life sciences and healthcare industries)
www.sciencerecruitment.ie

For jobs in the community sector or with voluntary organisations, check the jobs section of the Community Exchange site, www.activelink.ie/ce/active_section.php?id=4. Alternatively, the EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network) site contains the email addresses for directly contacting a wide number of such
organisations in Ireland: see www.iol.ie/~eapn/members.htm. Many of these would also welcome your voluntary involvement, and it may be a way of knowing when job vacancies arise.

On your return to Ireland you may be interested in temporary or casual work, so log on to www.eirjobs.com, www.nixers.com or
www.aaappointments.com/ireland.

COURSES AND FURTHER STUDIES

The preceding pages list university courses in Ireland which relate directly to development or sustainability. Some courses which have a less direct bearing on development, but which may nevertheless be of interest to potential and returned development workers, are omitted - in such disciplines as Economics, Education, the Health & Social Sciences, Religious Studies, Geography and Law. Their details can be obtained directly from the relevant colleges and faculties.

As courses change regularly, check with the colleges for any modifications. Information on courses in other countries is easiest found through the internet. Search under the headings of your
particular interest e.g. ‘development studies’, ‘women’s studies’, or ‘rural development studies’. (See also “Resident in the UK?” below)

Many shorter evening courses are available at different times of the year on aspects of Development Education, Gender Studies, Facilitation Skills etc - these too are omitted. The reader is recommended to check this website www.comhlamh.org for details of upcoming courses organised by Comhlámh and related organisations. The Community Exchange site www.activelink.ie is also recommended for information on such courses.

Resident in the UK?
For courses in the UK visit the site www.postgrad.hobsons.com. In addition, “Postgrad: The Directory of Graduate Studies” is published annually by Hobsons, and is available at the Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) Resource Centre (see www.dci.gov.ie for contact details) and some libraries. For courses on development related areas see also “Development Studies in Britain: A Select Course Guide”, published annually by the Conference of Development Studies Centres, available at www.ids.ac.uk/courses. Also worth checking out is the “Guide to Development Studies Courses in UK and Ireland” published by the Development Studies Association and available on www.devstud.org.uk/courseguide

Funding for further studies
You may be eligible for a grant for further studies from your local county council or corporation - that is if you have not previously had a grant at post-graduate level. Contact your local authority to ask. If you have been on social welfare for more than six months the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs may decide to continue your welfare payment during your studies (ask for the form SW70).

Tax relief may be gained on fees paid for most registered courses but check in advance.

Some development agencies offer both full and partial grants to returned development workers to engage in further studies. Mostly these need to be in an area related to development work. Some development agency grants require that you make a commitment to go overseas again. Some professional or industrial bodies also offer grants, so depending on your area of interest (e.g. medicine), you may be able to find alternate sources.

Most grants for post-graduate studies are discretionary, so be prepared to ‘make your case’ as to why you merit a grant. Means testing, etc. may apply for grants from state bodies.