Are FAS Courses Worth Doing...?

Harps

Hey, long story short, I graduated from college in May and I've been applying for jobs all summer but with no luck so far. I've been content enough throughout the summer with plenty to do to keep myself busy but I really don't want to be sitting at home unemployed all winter. One option I've been looking at to keep me busy and learn a new skill is doing a FAS course but I've heard from plenty of people that they're a waste of time

Basically I want a few opinions on whether doing a course (something like Intro to Java for example) will actually be worth putting on my CV afterwards or if I'll just be putting a lot of time and effort into a worthless qualification?

PucaMama

Harps wrote: »

Hey, long story short, I graduated from college in May and I've been applying for jobs all summer but with no luck so far. I've been content enough throughout the summer with plenty to do to keep myself busy but I really don't want to be sitting at home unemployed all winter. One option I've been looking at to keep me busy and learn a new skill is doing a FAS course but I've heard from plenty of people that they're a waste of time

Basically I want a few opinions on whether doing a course (something like Intro to Java for example) will actually be worth putting on my CV afterwards or if I'll just be putting a lot of time and effort into a worthless qualification?

yep there a big waste of time. i did childcare thru FAS. employers turn their noses at it.

omen80

I would imagine most of them are a complete waste of time. However, if you're interested in doing Java you can do your Oracle certifications through the FAS ecollege.

Harps

Yeah was thinking as much, suppose it still beats sitting at home but I'll be leaving it as a last resort

I haven't got any particular interest in Java but did an engineering course at college (all was well in 2007 when I started :rolleyes:) so a bit of programming knowledge might get me in the door somewhere

I'll have a look at the online courses as well, haven't really considered them before

confuseddotcom

Why would Employers turn up their nose at that? Sure Childcare jobs require a Level 5 Qualification to work in Childcare don't they? Sooooo, am curious why they would turn up their noses at that then? Am a bit puzzled by this, would like to hear why you think this.....

PucaMama wrote: »

yep there a big waste of time. i did childcare thru FAS. employers turn their noses at it.

PucaMama

confuseddotcom wrote: »

Why would Employers turn up their nose at that? Sure Childcare jobs require a Level 5 Qualification to work in Childcare don't they? Sooooo, am curious why they would turn up their noses at that then? Am a bit puzzled by this, would like to hear why you think this.....

PucaMama wrote: »

yep there a big waste of time. i did childcare thru FAS. employers turn their noses at it.

Its not considered as good as going to college even tho both are level 5.

allibastor

depends what you do really. Some courses are a waste of time to be fair and don't amount to much, others do have some potential.

they did run a good introduction to business course a few years ago which helped people from construction get into business. just don't expect to be picked over some one with a college education

blindsider

Given that Fás run a very large number of courses, surely it's a sweeping generalisation to say that none are any good.

Usually, what people get from a course is directly related to what they put in.

If you do any course, and put the effort in, you should do quite well at it and your results should reflect this.

I fail to see how turning up to an interview and saying (as per OP): 'I finished college, couldn't get a job, so I signed up for a Fás course. I kept my head down and got on with it, and I was quite pleased to be awarded a merit or distinction etc.'

How could an employer turn up their nose at that? It may not be a PhD in Astrophysics, but if the course is relevant to a vacant position, the it will be of use.

And it's better than sitting at home!

puffishoes

It would depend on a lot of factors.

The type of course. The tutor. Your experience.

For example.

If you did an IT related degree it would be very beneficial if you could do a CCNA/MCSA/E in FAS as you would have a professional cert that's sought after in the industry and the obtained in FAS is just as good as the same cert obtained anywhere else probably even better. as you would more than likely do it over a longer period of time with much more hands on.

If an employer is sticking their nose up at a FAS certification would you really want to work for such an employer in the first place?

Like anything else you will get from FAS what you put into it and how you sell it on your CV afterwards.

CuriousG

I don't think they are a waste of time at all, it depends on the field I suppose, but mine done me a world of good.... Still no job afterwards mind you( and that was with a merit), but it was better than sitting doing nothing.

I'd say go for it, if only for your sanity!

I also agree that some places to consider actual college certs to be of higher value..... I don't know why - just snobbery, I guess. It isn't true, I know people that have gone to college, and I learned more practical things than they ever could in FAS.

Mars Bar

I have a few friends who did Sound Engineering through FAS that was far more practical and useful than what we learned in college.

I'm just after finishing a Women's Soccer Course through FAS and the FAI. Absolutely wonderful course that I would go back and do again in a heartbeat. I got to do my I.T.E.C gym instruction cert that usually costs a couple of thousand euro to do. I got my Level 5 in Sports and Rec. I've come out with useful things like First Aid and some Football Coaching Badges. I enjoyed my year with FAS way more than my 3 years in college.

I suppose it depends on what it is.

looksee

There may be a little bit of confusion here.

Colleges of Further Education, do levels 5 and 6 fetac
'College' meaning IT and University, is Higher education.

Fas and colleges of further education do level 5 fetac and should generally be producing similar results and equal certificates.

Further education, broadly speaking, tends to be more practical and in a way, 'student friendly', in that there is a lot of support and the approach is somewhere between school and higher education.

Higher education has slightly different aims and tends to offer the course material, expecting the student to take responsibility for their own progress.

A fetac child care certificate should be just as acceptable to an employer whether it is achieved through a college of further education or a fas course.
If the OP is suggesting that employers are looking for Higher education qualifications for childcare then that is not the usual situation for child care assistants, fetac is usually considered appropriate.

Harps

Thanks for the replies

As I said, I'd probably do a computing course like Java if I end up choosing one, I already have an honours engineering degree but just thought I'd try and back it up with some computing knowledge as a lot of job ads list it as an advantage. I know how much I gain from it will largely depend on myself but I was just a bit sceptical whether it'd actually mean anything on my CV afterwards. Might as well apply anyway and have it as a fall-back if I get nothing in the mean time

puffishoes

Harps wrote: »

Thanks for the replies

As I said, I'd probably do a computing course like Java if I end up choosing one, I already have an honours engineering degree but just thought I'd try and back it up with some computing knowledge as a lot of job ads list it as an advantage. I know how much I gain from it will largely depend on myself but I was just a bit sceptical whether it'd actually mean anything on my CV afterwards. Might as well apply anyway and have it as a fall-back if I get nothing in the mean time

One of the most important things it will mean on the cv is you were not sitting on your hole

Murky Waters

Even purely from a self esteem point of view I would have thought that anything would beat sitting at home. A lot of FÁS courses have work placement schemes which could lead to employment with a company - you have one foot in the door & will have demonstrated how you work & fit in.

You wouldn't experience any problems as regards getting time off for interviews either, even if they are not related to the course itself.

Also, having done a FÁS course will look better than a big gap in your CV in the eyes of most employers. It demonstrates initiative & drive.

gozunda

I'm afraid in my own experience as an employer and father of someone who did a FAS course - FAS course qualifications = run away.

PucaMama

gozunda wrote: »

I'm afraid in my own experience as an employer and father of someone who did a FAS course - FAS course qualifications = run away.

Any real reason tho?

krd

gozunda wrote: »

I'm afraid in my own experience as an employer and father of someone who did a FAS course - FAS course qualifications = run away.

It really varies. There have been plenty of FAS courses in the past where people have been well trained - others, have been a little fishy.

Faolchu

I know someone who worked as an it admin and was out of work and fas put him on microsoft courses that led to him getting some mcps, also did ITIL foundation with them and prince. He was gonna start the ccna stuff with them but managed to get a job.

So it depends on what field your in and what the course is to be honest. My mate found the online courses naff but the classroom ones in IT are outsourced to global knowledge, BT Training and others

Sugar Free

I guess it depends on the course, your own current level of experience/qualifications and if employers value the course or not.

OP to give my own perspective, I finished university in 2008 and couldn't find a relevant job, so I was just working part time in retail.

I signed up for an introductory course. It was enjoyable but very basic, leaving certificate business studies basic.

It has never been commented on at interviews but like others have said, I do believe it showed employers that I was still trying to better myself while not working in the area I wanted.

From your posts, it might be a similiar story. It will show you're being active and trying to improve your skills. Whether those skills will actually be the difference in getting that first job is more of an unknown.

(For the record, I found relevant work soon after starting the course and then moved to another, better job soon after, where I still am over three years later)

fryup

i applied for a fas course during the summer

i didn't get it cause i didn't pass the aptitiude test but the thing is the course was advertised for a class of 16 people yet only 10 were taken on...i asked them was there any chance i could get a bye but they said no

don't you think thats a bit unfair? seeing that it was advirtised for 16 i mean it wouldn't kill them to take on one more would it? they're suppose to help people after all

carzony

I am in college and a lot of my tutors teach classes in fas, So it's very similar to college, Personally though I would rather have my CV say ''Attended college'' rather than ''Attended Fas''. I'v done Fas courses and from my experience the people attending seem to be either scum or just there to keep the dole off their backs

Antifa161

When I signed on I was told about all the wonderful courses FÁS could send you on, but when I made further enquiries at a meeting I had to attend, I was told they would only fund really low level courses. Fairly disappointing considering I'd been forced to attend some silly meeting where they gave me a load of false and useless information.

Love2love

I done a FAS course in HedgeFund Administration about 3 years ago and ALL of the others that done the course are now working in financial institutions. I was pregnant at the time so wasn't looking for work but I was very impressed with the course having already worked in that sector.

One of our tutors changed mid-through because he hadn't a clue about basic accountancy practices such as T accounts but other than that, I found it brilliant and the Diploma was awarded by The Fitzwilliam Institute rather than FAS.

To be honest, I was shocked to find such a good course being offered by FAS

rainbowdrop

fryup wrote: »

i applied for a fas course during the summer

i didn't get it cause i didn't pass the aptitiude test but the thing is the course was advertised for a class of 16 people yet only 10 were taken on...i asked them was there any chance i could get a bye but they said no

don't you think thats a bit unfair? seeing

that it was advirtised for 16 i mean it wouldn't kill them to take on one more would it? they're suppose to help people after all

Why would they take you on if you failed the aptitude test? They are designed to test your ability and see if you are suitable for the course, which if you failed you obviously were not.

Maybe they only found 10 suitable people to offer places to?

fryup

yes point taken, but my point is as i said the course was for 16, so thats 6 people less than what was advirtised at the time, i was under the impression that these courses should be filled to the max...so why not hold futher aptitude tests to do just that

starlit

It's ok to fill gap on cv but freelance work or online course might look better means you work towards something but then again a I.T cert or college course or springboard course look better if had placement go for that be better on cv but it's all about building up experience have examples and having online portfolio of coding projects done.

Best of luck!

Wanderer2010

carzony wrote: »

I am in college and a lot of my tutors teach classes in fas, So it's very similar to college, Personally though I would rather have my CV say ''Attended college'' rather than ''Attended Fas''. I'v done Fas courses and from my experience the people attending seem to be either scum or just there to keep the dole off their backs

Yes I sadly agree with this. In my own experience of FAS, I have done 4 courses, 2 work related and 2 personal development (Im working so had to pay for all courses). The two IT courses I did were very good for me as I do use IT a lot in work so it brought me on tenfold. The 2 personal development courses were ok as well, but the tutors are a mixed bag- some very helpful others just counting down the clock.

And as for the highlighted, it may sound bad but there seems to be some right weirdos who do FAS courses. Call them a mixture of dole scum, odd people and people who just do the minimun and disrupt the classes with their phones and chatting. I found a lot of them to be strange people altogether..

carzony

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Yes I sadly agree with this. In my own experience of FAS, I have done 4 courses, 2 work related and 2 personal development (Im working so had to pay for all courses). The two IT courses I did were very good for me as I do use IT a lot in work so it brought me on tenfold. The 2 personal development courses were ok as well, but the tutors are a mixed bag- some very helpful others just counting down the clock.

And as for the highlighted, it may sound bad but there seems to be some right weirdos who do FAS courses. Call them a mixture of dole scum, odd people and people who just do the minimun and disrupt the classes with their phones and chatting. I found a lot of them to be strange people altogether..

I done my ECDL with Fas and from that experience the people were either so stupid they couldn't even turn on the computers or just complete wasters. I also found the fas computer courses very outdated, I mean we were learning how to use 2005 Microsoft office because 2007 wasn't available and this was only last year :o

I ended up leaving the course and still got my certificate saying that I passed the course/exams:eek::D Fas is a joke and I'd hate to have to do any other courses there again.

DangerMousse

I've never done a FAS course but even in College or school you had some classes which were taught better than others. They seem to do a very wide range of courses, some very technical and others very basic.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/eoghan-harris/germanstyle-apprenticeship-system-is-what-our-youth-need-29507676.html

fryup wrote: »

yes point taken, but my point is as i said the course was for 16, so thats 6 people less than what was advirtised at the time, i was under the impression that these courses should be filled to the max...so why not hold futher aptitude tests to do just that

People are complaining about unsuitable people being on the courses, then you have others complaining they should fill the courses even if they are unsuitable. Weres the logic in that?

carzony wrote: »

I done my ECDL with Fas and from that experience the people were either so stupid they couldn't even turn on the computers or just complete wasters....

In the past FAS main priority was to get the long term unemployed and disadvantaged trained. The Govt also use it to massage the unemployment figures. So I can imagine it causes quite a mix in some classes. I'm guessing the harder the course the more dedicated people you get on it.

I thought FAS was being closed down and being moved to SW.

fatherted1969

Just skimmed through this and have to say I've a great experience on a FAS course. Done it in intellectual disability studies. 48 week course and since I've completed it i'm absolutely flat out. Plenty of organisations recognise my qualifications and are only too happy to employ me. In this current climate there's not too many sectors where you can choose a job that best suits you. Please don't all knock them, there not all bad