Government Backed Internships

kilburn

Hey guys, if anybody knows of any accountancy practises or accounts departments in industry that are or would offer one of these new internships can you please update it here. I know there is a new jobs thread but it aint really a job. I will sell my soul to the devil for some experience. Thanks, sorry mods if not appropriate

20 Times 20 Times

kilburn wrote: »

Hey guys, if anybody knows of any accountancy practises or accounts departments in industry that are or would offer one of these new internships can you please update it here. I know there is a new jobs thread but it aint really a job. I will sell my soul to the devil for some experience. Thanks, sorry mods if not appropriate

I think there is a LOT of graduates like yourself in this position , have you thought about continuing your studies and doing a masters ??

kilburn

I am doing the CIMA qualification and have accounting technician done so its really experience i need, I dont have a degree as it is. However there seems to be plenty of accounts jobs out there, unfortunately with out experience .............

20 Times 20 Times

Yeah I agree , the hardest part of it is getting a foot in the door. regrettably for us modern day Ireland still lives in the past with the 'good ole' saying " It's not what you know but who you know".

kilburn

Anyone? I will make the tea and sweep up also

MartyM

My advice would be to exhaust all avenues before signing up to the internship scheme.

For practice, target firms you would really like to work for and send a speculative cover letter and CV for any trainee accountant positions that may arise. Obviously ensure your cover letter is strong and shows you've researched the firm well.....same applies to industry!

As well as that, target the big 4 with the same approach but with interest in the internship scheme. Its all about experience and if you're gonna work for free it might as well be highly regarded experience.

I targeted KPMG on the official launch day of the scheme stating that, should any trainee positions arise under the scheme I would be interested. The previous day KPMG praised the scheme in the media. Granted I have not heard back but its only been 9 days.....and luckily enough I have secured a paid position elsewhere in practiice in the mean time......PWC have also signed up to the scheme, maybe the other two as well since I last checked!?

After 12 yrs in engineering I went for a career change, have 5 ACCA exams under my belt and was lacking experience. I certainly didnt fit the criteria for graduate recruitment, so it was daunting but their are positions out there.

Anyway, all internship positions will be posted on the Job Bridge web site:

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/

However, take the initiative, contact the companies you want and who are participating before they even post a position!

Good luck!

Hanley

kilburn wrote: »

Hey guys, if anybody knows of any accountancy practises or accounts departments in industry that are or would offer one of these new internships can you please update it here. I know there is a new jobs thread but it aint really a job. I will sell my soul to the devil for some experience. Thanks, sorry mods if not appropriate

You don't need to work for free to have sold your soul in the accounting biz

Good luck with the search!

smcgiff

Helped a friend out this weekend getting ready for his first practice review. I told him about the internship and he thinks its something he'd be interested in - I'd say there's a good chance of it becoming permanent.

It's a small limerick practice, two very well qualified accountants and an office manager and is crying out for an assistant.

Only problem is that he's up to his eyes getting his audit files ready - wonder how many of the 5k internships are still available?

I've set up an intern vacancy and it doesn't take too long - must bring it up with him again.

If my experience is anything to go by (non accounting role) excellent candidates are willing to try.

kilburn

well i hope firms in limerick and clare offer some positions as there is very little happening out there. Sad thing is if you could just get the few months experience you would walk into a job.

Maybe you could create your own internship - identify companies in the area you want to work in, try and find out who the relevant manager is and approach them suggesting they take you on as an intern.

I'm sure there are plenty that think the internship scheme isn't for their company, that it would be too much hassle, that doing interviews would take too much time or whatever.

Ladybird99

I have a small business offering payroll, accounts, tax return services etc and would love to offer work experience but unfortunately do not currently qualify for the intern scheme.

I advertised a position last year under the previous scheme and got nowhere. Anyone who applied had obviously not read the advert and did not realise it was a work placement scheme.

smcgiff

Ladybird99 wrote: »

I have a small business offering payroll, accounts, tax return services etc and would love to offer work experience but unfortunately do not currently qualify for the intern scheme.

I advertised a position last year under the previous scheme and got nowhere. Anyone who applied had obviously not read the advert and did not realise it was a work placement scheme.

Did they say why you didn't qualify?

Plus, this is a totaly new scheme, designed for a different purpose. I'd check it out if I were you.

<edit> you need to have one full time employee to qualify. If you don't have one you don't qualify.

Lux23

Ladybird99 wrote: »

I have a small business offering payroll, accounts, tax return services etc and would love to offer work experience but unfortunately do not currently qualify for the intern scheme.

I advertised a position last year under the previous scheme and got nowhere. Anyone who applied had obviously not read the advert and did not realise it was a work placement scheme.

Why don't you just hire someone and pay for them out of your own pocket?

smcgiff

Lux23 wrote: »

Why don't you just hire someone and pay for them out of your own pocket?

I'm guessing you've never run your own business.

Lux23

smcgiff wrote: »

I'm guessing you've never run your own business.

Im guessing you think its perfectly acceptable for businesses to exploit the unemployed, but then again I don't blame you our government seems to sponsoring our very own slavery programme.

If Ladybird wants to offer work experience then she should look at hiring someone and paying them a fair wage for their work, if she isn't eligible for the internship scheme there is probably a very good reason. Lets face it if Kish Fish can hire people as fish gutters under the scheme its doubtful she has much to offer in the way of experience.

crebel81

Have you tried the Fas website?

In the past week I have seen 5 or 6 positions in Cork alone offering this intern programme

smcgiff

smcgiff wrote: »

I'm guessing you've never run your own business.

If a business cant even afford to pay minimum wage it needs to adjust all or some wages downward and find other ways of reducing costs

Ladybird99

Lux23 wrote: »

Im guessing you think its perfectly acceptable for businesses to exploit the unemployed, but then again I don't blame you our government seems to sponsoring our very own slavery programme.

If Ladybird wants to offer work experience then she should look at hiring someone and paying them a fair wage for their work, if she isn't eligible for the internship scheme there is probably a very good reason. Lets face it if Kish Fish can hire people as fish gutters under the scheme its doubtful she has much to offer in the way of experience.

Gosh..there a lot of people speculating about my business. There are are a variety of reasons why a business would not be qualified for the current scheme and I never said I could not afford to pay some one. In fact I pay several people to work for me.

Actually Lux, I have plenty of experience, over twenty years in fact.

The whole point of the scheme is to give people a chance to get experience and hopefully get a job. If I can offer someone else the opportunity to train up and create their own opportunities, I will regardless of how people view my motives or reasons. There will always be someone out to exploit others but I'm not one of those.

Deleted User wrote: »

If a business cant even afford to pay minimum wage it needs to adjust all or some wages downward and find other ways of reducing costs

No doubt there will be many companies signing up who cannot presently afford to pay a wage but equally there are going to be many who can easily afford it(some extremely large and profitable) but sign up for the scheme anyway. Are you going to slate them or their motives? The negativity in this thread is sickening.

So what if a company takes someone on under the scheme. If there is the slightest chance that by doing this, the business can then improve productivity or turnover and ultimately offer the intern a permanent job then it has got to be worth doing. Small business is being choked to death in this country and the banks are refusing to lend. I see it all the time with clients. For many businesses this could be the only lifeline they get.

kilburn

I can understand this from both sides so I think i have a unique view of it. I ran my own business before so understand all about staff costs, struggling to survive etc. So got out sold up moved on decided to get a professional qualification, I think any firm that would offer me or someone else proper work experience and training under this or any scheme should be commended. I know for fact that me and most other unemployed accounts people without experience would walk a job after an intership so feck the begrudgers.

ianuss

kilburn wrote: »

I can understand this from both sides so I think i have a unique view of it. I ran my own business before so understand all about staff costs, struggling to survive etc. So got out sold up moved on decided to get a professional qualification, I think any firm that would offer me or someone else proper work experience and training under this or any scheme should be commended. I know for fact that me and most other unemployed accounts people without experience would walk a job after an intership so feck the begrudgers.

Is that actually the case though? I mean, how long are you expected to work for free before you'd be able to get a proper job?

I would probably be prepared to work maybe 15/20 hours a week, for 2/3 months max. The fact that companies are expecting 40 hrs work for up to 9 months is outrageous. Absolutley outrageous. I'd sooner emigrate than do that.

kilburn

I stand by that comment there are a good shot of accounts jobs out there fas, irishjobs, jobs.ie shows that and that is excluding agencies. You need experience to get a job so if i can get my experience and be working and getting an extra 50 bucks i will gladly take it.

smcgiff

Deleted User wrote: »

If a business cant even afford to pay minimum wage it needs to adjust all or some wages downward and find other ways of reducing costs

Sorry, I could write a book on the weakness of that argument, but ...

SerialComplaint

kilburn wrote: »

I know for fact that me and most other unemployed accounts people without experience would walk a job after an intership so feck the begrudgers.

But there won't be any job after internship. Why would they create and pay somebody to do a real job when they can dump the intern in the dumpster and find another free intern, courtesy of the State?

smcgiff

SerialComplaint wrote: »

But there won't be any job after internship. Why would they create and pay somebody to do a real job when they can dump the intern in the dumpster and find another free intern, courtesy of the State?

If you've read what Kilburn has said you'll know he meant they would be a lot more employable in general.

I think people (some)* are failing to see the opportunity.

Taking the company I work for as an example in the Media industry. The person will learn more in 9 months with us and be more employable than with a 4 year degree.

It'd be the same thing as complaining about students paying to go to college when they could be out earning.

*The quality of the candidates we got looks very impressive.

Lux23

I have three years experience in Communications and I am doing one of these schemes, most places aren't taking those who have no experience so its of no benefit to most graduates. I wouldn't mind if I was learning anything but I am actually teaching the Manager more than she is me. Its just so frustrated when people go on like the scheme is a godsend to the unemployed, its not and should be totally withdrawn. Its basically removing perfectly good jobs from the labour market and turning them into internships, why can't people see how damaging it is???

smcgiff

Lux23 wrote: »

Its just so frustrated when people go on like the scheme is a godsend to the unemployed, its not and should be totally withdrawn.

As a communications professional you should be wary of making generalisations.

It looks to be true in your case, but I know of two cases where they will be of great benefit.

Lux23

I can only go by ancedotal experience, in my case I am probably just marginally better off working here as I am making contacts but I am paying about 70-80 euro to come into work every week. By the end of the summer I just won't have that money anymore to even do that but if these schemes weren't in place I would have a job already even if it was a fairly entry level one.

If the scheme were to be successful and 5000 people were to take up a position it will cost the taxpayer an extra €20 million on top of other benefits they may be in receipt of over the next year. This would be a small price to pay if it meant they would all get paid employment once their nine month stint was up but this is highly unlikely as there is absolutely nothing to stop the employer letting the person go and taking someone else on under the scheme.

Of course fans of the scheme may say with the extra experience gained during their nine months the particpant should be able to get a paid job elsewhere but many of the positions that would be suitable will be internships and WPP schemes. I strongly believe employers should not be able to use the scheme unless they can say that if the particpant fulfills certain criteria they will have a proper paid job with them.

kilburn

I dont quite think you get this scheme maybe your on a WPP but nowhere in the intern scheme does it say you will be mad permanent and get a full time job out of it. The experience will get the people who had no experience an interview then down to the individual to get the job

Lux23

kilburn wrote: »

I dont quite think you get this scheme maybe your on a WPP but nowhere in the intern scheme does it say you will be mad permanent and get a full time job out of it.

Eh yes and that is the major problem with it, I don't think I can make myself any clearer. There is no difference between WPP and the new scheme except for the fifty quid, it was just a rebrand basically.

Fair enough the experience may help you to get another job but as someone who is looking for a year for a job and has three years experience in their sector it may not be the case.

As an aside there are a number of adverts on Jobbridge looking for qualified accountants, I worked in an accountancy firm and it was my understanding that a qualified accountannt could have at least three years experience. The whole thing is a sham and any company that is using is in my eyes doing serious damage to their reputation. Just ask the Old Ground Hotel.

kilburn

Think the old ground is a bad example maybe Topaz would be better to make a witch hunt out of.

Lux23

kilburn wrote: »

Think the old ground is a bad example maybe Topaz would be better to make a witch hunt out of.

Oh yes working on that one as I speak, Expert Hardware were also a victim of mine.

kilburn

Woo hoo got one !