Are you an Asylum Seeker, Refugee or Ukrainian looking for work in Ireland?

Do you want to increase your chances of finding a job in Ireland?

The EPIC Programme can help you access training, find jobs and integrate into Irish society through online interactive training and individual support from Career Counsellors.

This is how they can help. They offer FREE, online inclusive and interactive training covering;

• Skills for the Irish Job Market
• Professional Emails and Workplace Communication
• CV Writing & Interview Preparation
• Supports from Businesses
• Integration Workshops
• Individual Support from Career Counsellors

EPIC is for Adults living in Ireland with good spoken and written English and who are;

• Asylum seekers with Work Permits
• Refugees
• People with Subsidiary Protection or Leave to Remain
• Ukrainian Refugees
• People from a Refuge background with Irish Citizenship

How does the EPIC Programme work?

EPIC offers a FREE employment programme that can help you integrate in Irish society by overcoming some of the most common barriers when looking for work or education such as: lack of Irish work experience, interview preparation, understanding of the Irish standards when preparing CV and Cover Letter. EPIC also offers one to one career guidance, work experience opportunities and support with other issues.

Hear from a former EPIC participant on his experience with the employment programme HERE

3,500 people from 101 nationalities. 68% of their clients have found jobs or entered training or are volunteering.

The programme is supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and The Community Foundation for Ireland.

EPIC increases the job seeking skills of asylum seekers and refugees using a needs assessment and a client centred approach. It provides pre-employment training, One-to-One support and opportunities for work experience.

The Epic training covers:

• Support with business vocabulary, CV and cover letter writing techniques; identifying and describing skills; telephone skills for job interviews and in the workplace; advice on how to look for a job.
• Interview preparation includes tips and advice from employers, how to handle difficult interview questions, and the opportunity to do practice interviews
• IT Skills Training –focusing on the use of Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Information sessions on a variety of themes to facilitate networking, understanding of the Irish system and to promote social integration. Topics covered include access to health, employment rights and entitlements, social welfare, and access to education.

Participants must first meet three essential criteria in order to be eligible

• Status – Participants must be adults who are asylum seekers with work permits, refugees with Stamp 4, people with Subsidiary Protection and Stamp 4, people with Leave to Remain and Stamp 4, people from a refugee background and Irish passport or people with Temporary Protection Certificates
• Location – participants must be living in the Republic of Ireland
• Level of English– Participants should have intermediate to high level of both written and spoken English. The English language level will be assessed prior to joining the programme.

There are multiple courses running throughout 2023.

One-To-One Individual Support with Career Counsellors

As part of the service Career Counsellors with expertise and wide experience in career advice and job placement, provide one-to-one support sessions on the various steps required in seeking new employment or education.

Supports include CV and interview preparation, psychometric testing, coaching for interviews as well as working with the participant to source and secure further education or employment.

Other benefits:

• Work experience opportunities
• Social Support – advice on Social Welfare, housing, family and other issues
• Mentoring service
• Advice for entrepreneurs
• Free access to computers for online job searching
• Certificate of Participation upon completion of the Training

Read and register for the EPIC Programme: Employment and Training for Refugees and Asylum Seekers HERE