Work Placement

Backstreet Moyes

Just wondering if anybody could give me some advice. I done a 4 year Finance degree but have been unable to find any work since i qualified over a year ago and i really need something before my degree becomes worthless. I got offered a work placement for 9 months in a grants office it is 9 months with an extra €50 a week on top of your dole. To be honest with buying suits, getting lunches and travelling i would be losin money every week but its something for the c.v. even though money is tight as it is. My problem is i dont know if i could hack 9 months working for so little when people working beside me are getting €400 or more a week and im doing the same work, plus it is 9 months where i wont be able to get a proper full time job. But it would improve my chances of a job at the end of the placement.

Im weighing up my options and considering going back to college part time to do an accountancy course, but also considering going to Australia with a friend in 2 or 3 months time. I have a chance of a part time job off an uncles friend but wont know until next week which would give me the money to go away to Australia but its not a definate job. Also my friend is also only going dependant on if he can get a loan. I rang and explained my situation last Friday and the secretary told me the boss is away and she seemed to understand but was trying to convince me to take it. I presume because its a placement im probably the only person that applied for the job. I will also point out i done the interview 6 weeks ago and the person the offered the job too quit and i was 2nd choice, so when i went to the interview i had not had other plans. My problem is they want a final answer by Thursday but i wont know anything about part time job until next week. Im just worried if i dont get the part time job i wont be able to afford Australia well not for a few months unless i do alot of saving.

My main worry is if i turn down this placement is will get my dole cut. If not now even then if i dont get the part time job and they report me to the social services office down the line if they notice i didnt go to Australia. Im just up in a heap now i dont know what to do but i am unsure of the consequences if i turn down the placement. Sorry if it is too long just confused and this decision is an important choice for my future.

Sir Oxman

It's important to remember that you are not tied in servitude to this company for 9 months.
If you feel the placement is of no use to you and/or is simply a company looking for free labour, walk.

I would ring them back and say you cannot give a definite answer until you find out about the part time job - 'internships' or WPPS or free labour is not meant to stop you getting an actual paid job, part-time or fulltime.

Backstreet Moyes

gambiaman wrote: »

It's important to remember that you are not tied in servitude to this company for 9 months.
If you feel the placement is of no use to you and/or is simply a company looking for free labour, walk.

I would ring them back and say you cannot give a definite answer until you find out about the part time job - 'internships' or WPPS or free labour is not meant to stop you getting an actual paid job, part-time or fulltime.

Yes but i heard that if you turn down a placement job that you get cut €44 and im afriad if the Australia plan doesn't materialise then they will cut me. The thing is their is not even a permenant job at the end of it which might have made a difference, but also 9 months seems a bit long.

Sir Oxman

Nuts102 wrote: »

Yes but i heard that if you turn down a placement job that you get cut €44 and im afriad if the Australia plan doesn't materialise then they will cut me. The thing is their is not even a permenant job at the end of it which might have made a difference, but also 9 months seems a bit long.

I would go to a citizens advice centre or even your local SWO and tell them of your dilemma - you obviously want to work even as far as for no pay!

1. You have a chance of part-time paid work
2. You have a chance of emigrating

At the end of the day, a 9month unpaid position should not hamper in any way those chances.

All you are doing is keeping your options open.

LegacyUser

Where is a list of companies partipicating in this scheme and the address of the main website with the official information?

There seems to be no mention on welfare.ie

Backstreet Moyes

what do you work at wrote: »

Where is a list of companies partipicating in this scheme and the address of the main website with the official information?

There seems to be no mention on welfare.ie

I think most of them are on the FAS website.