u/Ok_Contribution2921

I’m currently an au pair in Ireland, and my agreement with my host family will be ending in the next few months. I’d really like to stay in Ireland and find a full-time job, so I’m wondering if anyone has been through a similar transition.
If I’m available to start in September, is it worth applying for jobs now? Should I mention my availability on my CV or just in my application? Do employers consider candidates who can’t start for another couple of months?
I’m also a bit worried that if I don’t find a job by September, I may need to stay with my host family a little longer. I don’t want them to feel like I’m taking advantage of them, but I also don’t want to leave before I have another job lined up.
I’m currently studying QQI Level 5 in Office Administration and would love to find a reception or admin role, but I’m also happy to work in hotels, cafés, restaurants, or retail.
Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks !

Hi everyone!
I’m currently an au pair in Ireland, and I recently got engaged. My fiancée and I would like to move in together, but because au pair pay is so low, I need to transition into a full-time job. I plan to stay in the same country, and my fiancée already works full-time.
At the moment, my fiancée also has a live-in job, so neither of us currently pays rent. However, we’d like to eventually get our own place together, which means I’ll need a full-time job with a stable income.
I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice on how to make the transition.
One thing I’m unsure about is job applications. If I’m available from, say, September (when my agreement with my host family ends), should I mention that on my CV? Are jobs considering candidates that want to get employed in for example 2 months from now?
Another worry is that if I don’t find a job by September, I might need to stay with my host family for a little longer. I’m concerned that they might feel like I’m using them or that it would leave a bad impression, even though that wouldn’t be my intention at all. I don’t want to put them in a difficult position, but I also don’t want to leave before I have a stable job lined up.

Hi everyone!
I’m currently an au pair in Europe, and I recently got engaged. My fiancée and I would like to move in together, but because au pair pay is so low, I need to transition into a full-time job. I plan to stay in the same country, and my fiancée already works full-time.
At the moment, my fiancée also has a live-in job, so neither of us currently pays rent. However, we’d like to eventually get our own place together, which means I’ll need a full-time job with a stable income.
I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice on how to make the transition.
One thing I’m unsure about is job applications. If I’m available from, say, September (when my agreement with my host family ends), should I mention that on my CV? Are jobs considering candidates that want to get employed in for example 2 months from now?
Another worry is that if I don’t find a job by September, I might need to stay with my host family for a little longer. I’m concerned that they might feel like I’m using them or that it would leave a bad impression, even though that wouldn’t be my intention at all. I don’t want to put them in a difficult position, but I also don’t want to leave before I have a stable job lined up.

Hey everyone! I’m currently doing a QQI Level 5 in Office Administration and will need to complete 100 hours of work placement soon.

I currently work as a childminder, but I’d love to move into an admin/secretary/assistant role. I especially enjoy the payroll module (a position in this field would be even better) and hope to complete the IPASS qualification after I finish this course.

I also have previous experience as a Service Desk Analyst and in a call centre.

Do companies usually hire people with a QQI Level 5, and does anyone have tips on getting started in this field? I’m open to relocating for the right opportunity.

Hello! I’m looking forward to buy the move with us yearly plan and would like to know if anyone wants to split the cost for it?

I’ve been an au pair for a little over 2 months now for a family with 4 children (under 2, 8, 10 & 11 y), and lately I’ve been feeling like this is too much for me or that I’m simply not the right fit for this family. I’m honestly debating whether I should quit or look for another host family.

This is my second time being an au pair. My first experience was amazing and I’m still in contact with that family. This current family is also genuinely lovely they’ve been kind, supportive, welcoming, and generous with me. That’s part of why I feel so guilty even thinking this way.

I work around 8–9 hours a day. I have weekends off, and sometimes weekdays off too if the dad is home (usually 1–2 days every second week). This was all agreed on beforehand and I’m paid well, so the issue isn’t really the schedule itself.

The biggest challenge is the toddler (almost 2 years old). She has a very strong personality and, honestly, I had very little experience with children this young before coming here. In the beginning it was extremely stressful. Whenever her parents or siblings aren’t around, she screams A LOT, for example if she doesn’t want to get dressed or doesn’t want her nappy changed. Sometimes she screams so intensely that her face goes bright red and I genuinely worry she’ll faint. Before her midday nap, her routine is to go outside, but sometimes I physically cannot get her ready because she refuses clothes or a nappy change and just screams nonstop.

After naps it’s the same situation: if I put her on the changing table she starts screaming immediately. I can handle the screaming itself, but during nappy changes she’ll sit up, twist around, move constantly, and sometimes get dirty everywhere, or I simply can’t complete the change properly. I’ve tried distractions, toys, singing, silly games, talking calmly, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes I’m simply exhausted and don’t have the energy to turn every nappy change into a performance.

What also confuses me is that when her siblings are around, they have zero patience with her. If she starts this behavior while I’m changing her, they’ll yell at her and she instantly stops. Meanwhile when I try to be firm, calm, or redirect her, it often doesn’t work.

There are also moments where I have no choice but to intervene, like taking dangerous objects away from her and she reacts by screaming hysterically. Yesterday she was playing with dirt and when I picked her up she tried to smack me in the face with dirty hands. I raised my voice and told her firmly to stop, and she actually did stop. But today was a complete disaster again and even being firm didn’t help.

The strange thing is that when her parents or siblings come home, she suddenly becomes very sweet with me, hugging me, kissing me, acting affectionate.

The older kids can also be difficult sometimes. One of them lied to me for weeks about not having homework (or claimed she did it on the bus) until her parents eventually found out. I felt awful because I genuinely believed her telling me she has no homework. Also the 8 years old constantly jumps on me wanting me to carry her around like a baby as a joke but it becomes overwhelming when I’m already drained from the toddler all day.

I understand toddlers can’t regulate their emotions and that this behavior is developmentally normal, but I’m becoming so emotionally exhausted that I don’t know how to handle this anymore. I’m starting to question whether I should leave.

At the same time, I feel terrible because the parents have truly been nice to me. They supported me despite my limited experience with babies, gave me free days when I was sick, and overall made me feel very welcomed in their home.

I just honestly don’t know whether I’m burnt out, inexperienced, or simply not the right fit for this situation. Thank you for reading all of this and I really appreciate any advice

Any hairdresser here or anyone that knows what they actually use at the salon that the hair looks and feels so good?

Any hairdresser here or anyone that knows what they actually use at the salon that the hair looks and feels so good?

Any hairdresser here or anyone that knows what they actually use at the salon that the hair looks and feels so good?

Hi there!

I’ve recently started studying for a basic QQI5 in office admin to test the waters and see what I like the most and I really love the payroll module so I’m thinking for the forward steps (level 6) to get a specialization in this area.

What would be the best recognized options for online or part time studying or should I move to full time level 7 degree? And is this a good career path to take or should I focus on something else? TIA