All Quiet

It's now two weeks since my search recommenced and I find myself getting frustrated at my failure to find employment.  The usual outlets, such as job websites, just do not work.  Clearly there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of applications for each of these positions so in most cases potential employers do not even reply to the applicants.  Surely this should be a common courtesy?

Nonetheless, I battle on.  I have been continuing with my volunteer work maintaining a football-related website and we've been in pre-season training with the football club so this has been keeping me busy and helping me to remain balanced and positive.

I am putting together a personal website that I hope will help me to bring in some massage work and it's something I may look to set up as a small business down the line.  This is something that I have no experience of, however, and I intend to seek advice on how one goes about setting up a business.  This, I hope, will be the next step in life for me and while I acknowledge that it is a major risk starting a business in the current climate, I am rapidly running out of options with time very much against me.

It's difficult to remain positive at the moment, I must admit.  However, I am a positive person and I will always try to keep a smile on my face and know that there is work for me somewhere.  There is an answer to my situation and I must keep fighting until I come up with this solution.

This is what I shall do!

Cheers.
Willie


Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Campaign hashtag: #WillieWantsWork
Website: http://williewantswork.webnode.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=216500983&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

I'm back!  I really was hoping I wouldn't be but I am.  So, unfortunately, the position I had accepted and told you about in my last post, hasn't worked out, putting me back to square one again.

Now, it would be easy for me to sit around and feel sorry for myself and hope that someone will knock on my door with a new position for me but I'm a realist.  I know that's not how it works!  So, what am I going to do about it?  Well, I'm going to get right back on the horse and I'm going to get jobhunting again.

I'm also going to re-launch my #WillieWantsWork campaign.  So, as before, I'm going to appeal to your better nature and ask that you please mention my links on your social media sites using the hashtag.  The 2 important links are this blog and the website, both of which can be found at the bottom of this post.

The whole idea is to catch the attention of any potential employers out there and to let them know that I'm their man!

Thanks in advance for sharing the links.  This approach has helped me once before, hopefully lightning can strike twice!

Thanks for reading.  All the important contact details are below and all I ask is that you please share the blog and website links with everyone you know.

Chat soon.
Willie

Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Campaign hashtag: #WillieWantsWork
Website: http://williewantswork.webnode.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=216500983&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Success!

When I last posted here I told you that I had an interview for a well-known Irish company the next morning.  That interview went extremely well.  So much so, that they phoned me back that afternoon to offer me the position.  Having taken the weekend to go through the various terms and conditions, I am delighted to announce that I have accepted the position of Goods Inwards Manager at the Central Distribution Centre of one of Ireland's major retailers in Dublin.

A very good friend of mine, Roy McDermott, took up the mantle for me upon seeing this campaign.  He sent my CV around his contacts, one of whom was this company and obviously that has been successful.  I want to thank Roy for taking the time to do that on my behalf.  He tells me that it's down to me selling myself at interview but without his introduction, there would have been no interview to attend in the first place so kudos to Roy in my opinion.

A lot of people have campaigned on my behalf through their own social media sources and their own personal contacts.  There are way too many for me to try to mention here but I thank you all sincerely for your efforts on my behalf.  I have had contact from complete strangers, in Ireland and abroad, offering advice and support around my campaign.  If you're reading this, again many thanks.

Over the weekend, my campaign was featured on the website 'Thumbs Up From Toni'.  This website features innovative ideas used by people to secure employment.  I featured under the Social Media category.  The full article can be viewed here: http://www.thumbsupfromtoni.com/willie-wants-work/
I'd like to thank Liam Horan at Slí Nua Careers (www.SliNuaCareers.com) and Elianor at Thumbs Up From Toni for their support and for making that article happen.  I highly recommend anybody to check out both websites.

I started the #WillieWantsWork Twitter campaign on Wednesday May 29th and by Friday May 31st I had a very good job offer.  Now, I'm not saying it will always work like this but I feel that if you take the initiative and put yourself out there things can happen for you.  We all have the power to control our own destiny, we just need to believe it!  I have had the support and backing of lots of good friends but what surprised me the most is the support I received from complete strangers.  Someone paraphrased a movie to me last week when they said "If you build it, they will come".  That struck a chord with me and it probably sums up my campaign in a way.

I intend to keep this blog, and my website, online as a resource and possible source of inspiration, for others who may find themselves in the same position as myself some day.  While the type of campaign I chose to run may not suit everybody, it does show that if you grasp the nettle and just go for something, it can be achieved!

Cheers,
Willie

Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Use Hashtag: #WillieWantsWork
Website: http://williewantswork.webnode.com

Day 2 - Part 2

Well, today has been hectic.  I've just been overwhelmed with the response I've been receiving to the campaign.  This blog currently has 1,662 hits which, when you consider it only went live yesterday morning, is pretty phenomenal.

So, I was on the Spin 103.8 lunchtime show called 'The Spin' today and had a chat with the presenters Jonathan and Clare.  They gave me the time to explain what my campaign is about and how it came about.  They also gave out the contact details and the all-important hashtag #WillieWantsWork.  I'm extremely grateful to the guys for giving me the opportunity to go on air and get the word out to a wider audience.  I will admit to being very nervous though!

I have also been contacted by a website who are interested in doing a piece about me and the campaign to secure employment and I hope to get that all sorted out tomorrow.

The groundswell of support that I have received from everyone has been fantastic.  When I had the idea to start the campaign and put myself out there I did so with some trepidation as I expected to get quite a bit of stick over it.  If there are any dissenters out there, they've remained silent and I'm happy with that.  Although, being honest, it wouldn't deter me in the slightest, not one bit.  I have my eyes set on a goal and I will achieve it!

I also set up a small website to support the campaign and to give people a point of reference for what I'm doing.  I'll post the link at the bottom.

The final thing for today, and I've intentionally saved it until last, is that I have secured an interview for a position with a very well known company for tomorrow morning.  I'm really looking forward to going along and getting the opportunity to sell myself.

Thanks for reading.  All the important contact details are below and all I ask is that you please share the blog and website links with everyone you know.

Chat soon.
Willie

Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Campaign hashtag: #WillieWantsWork
Website: http://williewantswork.webnode.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=216500983&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Day 2 - Part 1

Okay, so Day 2 of the campaign has commenced and I must say I'm absolutely blown away by the response I'm having.  This blog has passed through the 1,100 views mark in 24 hours!  I've been retweeted all over Twitter and had the link shared on Facebook.  To everyone who has helped me so far, I thank you :)

So, what's happening today?  Well, in about an hour I'll be speaking on Dublin's Spin 1038 show The Spin with Johnny and Clare.  This was set up by a childhood friend who shared my blog with them and they got in touch.  I'll admit to being nervous about this but excited too. 

I'm going to keep this fairly brief for now but will be back after the show with the second part of today's blog.  Thanks for reading.

Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Campaign hashtag: #WillieWantsWork

Willie Wants Work

My name is Willie Conlon; I’m looking for some work.

I used to be a manager but the company, they shut up.

I loved my job but they’re no longer around,

Now I just can’t find work anywhere, so I wear a little frown. 

I apply for jobs, no word do I hear,

I may never get work, this is my great fear!

“There’s loads of work out there”, I’m hearing people say.

Well my dear people, please send this work my way. 

So, one day I got to thinking,

(Thinking right outside the box!).

That if I’m going to find some work real soon,

I have to be as cute as a fox.
 

Employers are getting hundreds of forms for really not many jobs,

They don’t have time to review them all so some they just get lobbed!

The forms, they are all stacking up; the CV’s, they are too,

And I think, because of this, I’m being missed by you! 

I need to stand out from the crowd,

I need to shout out loud.

I’m here! Come get me!

In OUR Company I’ll be proud!

So, let’s throw out the cliché’s, I’ll be innovative and motivate,

They’re just words after all, and they don’t even sound great.

I’m dynamic and results-orientated, going forward you will see,

These buzz words are just a waste of time, not just for you, but for me! 

So this is what you’ll get if you take a punt on me,

I’m a normal Joe Soap but I work hard and am honest, try me and you’ll see.

I like to smile, I like a laugh but when I get right in that zone,

The task will be done and you will see that I can be left on my own. 

I can use Microsoft Office; in fact I’m using Word right now,

I’d go as far as to say I Excel and achieve success.

Just sit me near a Power Point,

And get me cracking on Access.  

I can talk for Ireland, of that there is no doubt,

In fact sometimes I talk so much you may just have to shout.

So, to all potential employers, go on, take a punt on me,

I’m the man for any job, that you will soon see. 

You’ll find me on the Twitter machine,

You only need to look.

It really is quite easy,

Just use hashtag #WillieWantsWork

Who Are Ya?

My name is Willie Conlon and I live in Tallaght in Dublin.

For the past twelve months I have been unemployed due to the company I previously worked for merging with another company, leading to redundancies.  Of the redundancies made, I was one.

In the interim period, I have found it very difficult to find full-time employment, in fact I have found it impossible!  It's not for the lack of effort, mind you.  I apply for positions practically every single day.  Most of the time I don't even receive a response.  I have worked since the age of fifteen so this is all uncharted territory for me.

I will admit that the lack of a job and, even more so, the lack of a response has been quite downheartening.  However, I am not one for sitting on my laurels.  I am going to try something new, something that may help me to stand out from the crowd.  I am going to use social media to attempt to get myself back into employment.

I use Twitter (people will say I over-use it but this is a down side to unemployment!).  I have decided to create a campaign using Twitter and will be using the hashtag #WillieWantsWork

I will also be setting up a YouTube page, which I will tie into the #WillieWantsWork campaign.  Hopefully, I can convince my friends and followers to spread the word and retweet me around the Twitterverse in the hope of catching some employer's eye somewhere.

So, this will be my blog page, which I will keep updated during the campaign to find work.  I hope you will be able to get behind me and help me spread the word.  Thanks for reading.  Please bookmark this page and follow me on Twitter.

Follow me on Twitter: @WillieC1888
Use the hashtag: #WillieWantsWork

LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=216500983&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile