JobBridge: told I have the position and then they change their mind

TheJinMu

Hi all, this is a little bit long, but it wont take long to read and its just so you get the whole picture. I would really appreciate some advice here though!

So last Monday I got a call to say I got a JobBridge Internship having been the "most interesting person" from the interviews and "definitely the candidate they want", I wont say where because it doesn't matter and I dont want to name names, but it was in a barbers. Anyway, I had a trial on the Thursday to make sure I got along with the other staff but they said to go ahead and sort out all the forms anyway (they thought it was all my end that stuff needed to be done) because they could see no problem arising there. Had my trial day, it went really well, got along with staff, learned the basic ropes etc and they "officially" but verbally offered me the place, which I was absolutely delighted to accept, and I said I would be in again Friday as they are quite rushed off their feet in there.

They logged in and signed me up that day, then Friday, between customers, we were trying to download the forms that I have to bring to SW. But they wouldnt download so he said he'd sort it over the weekend. I was asked if I wanted to start full time this week, be in first thing monday and have wednesday off as they open 6days a week, which I agreed to, and there was no problems, they seemed perfectly happy with me.

Here's where it gets weird, went in today, was on time etc, and they were surprised to see me, said they didn't think I was going to be in today but that they were going to call me anyway. They then proceeded to say they'd been thinking over the weekend and talking to their partner and other staff and they felt they had rushed into hiring someone because of christmas and such. They also continued that my reception skills weren't up to scratch (I was given the example where the owners partner had called, I had answered and it being the first phonecall I answered, I wasnt sure what to say but I did fine in my opinion, they said I was very timid etc on the phone. I remember the call and when I hung up, the owner had complimented me on how well I had done...!) and my confidence etc wasn't high enough (which they had seen in the interview anyway) and threw in some more reasons like I didn't ask enough questions and that sort of thing (which I'll admit I could have asked more questions, but I was shy, as they pointed out to me themselves, it was my first two half days and also they were very busy so why would I interrupt and risk being rude and have that against me??)
They weren't rude about it but since it was the last thing I was expecting, I said it was understandable and that it was ok. Upon reflection, I should have disagreed with the whole thing and made the points I've made here, but hindsight is a great thing.

It doesn't make an ounce of sense though. How could my reception skills be top notch after two half days- i was there from 9.30 til 3, how could I be settled in that fast? They knew I had never done reception work before, the advert said the position would, "On completion the intern will have attained skills in customer service, retail sales,

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, reception skills." The whole thing sounded more like excuses to me!

My question is, should I report them to JobBridge in case they mess someone else around too? Or has anyone got any other advice for me? It IS very close to Christmas after all and that extra €50 a month was going to be an absolute savior- I'm currently struggling on €125 a week, and I was so proud to have gotten a job, be it an internship or not, it meant the world to me and it didnt even have a chance to blossom. Isnt the usual time to know if someone is what you want or not 6weeks or 6months?? Not 12hours!? I feel so let down by it!
Again, sorry for the length but you need to have the full facts to be able to judge :P

Mrs OBumble

Yes, you should report them.

Are you a Traveller, or foreign, or can you think of some other reason why they would want to discriminate? Have you dated the daughter/son of someone who works there?

No, you shouldn't answer those questions here (unless you want to) ... just thnk about whether there's some non-work reason for their behaviour. It may be that you should complain about them discriminating for some reason.

TheJinMu

None of the above! I'm Irish, I'm 24 and we got along very well, we all seemed to have the same interests in music and TV etc! I'm from a different part of the country and they also said how that may hinder me in building up a clientele. I dont see how.

Aside from the confidence thing, which clearly would have improved given the fact I would be in direct public relations, I honestly cant think of anything I have done. If I'm honest, I've told the situation to a few friends who felt maybe the partner just got a bit... jealous/ control freak and decided they didnt want their partner working with me. From the get-go it seemed, by the way the owner spoke, that their other half wasn't keen on me, but having only met them in passing once the Friday evening, they could only judge on what they would have been told. It seems like a jealous other half thing really

Would JobBridge themselves be the right people to report to?
Any other advice/ opinions is still greatly appreciated!

beaner88

Take a step back for a second. You are worrying about not being able to do unpaid work. Move on and forget it.

road_high

beaner88 wrote: »

Take a step back for a second. You are worrying about not being able to do unpaid work. Move on and forget it.

Totally agree. OP move on and focus on paid work if at all possible. This Jobridge is a scam of the highest order.

dorkacle

Do you think they might have found someone else to fill the place over the weekend?
I don't mean that in a bad way, but would they have given the position to a family member etc?
If the position is still there or has been filled by someone else, I would say you have grounds for complaint/appeal.
But would you want to work there after all that?

Why do you think they didn't expect you in after the weekend?? Seems strange.

I'm not sure of the legal implications, particularly as its involved with job bridge.
But I was under the impression if you accept an offer (even just verbally - although its hard to prove) that they can't withdraw said offer. They could of before you had accepted but that doesn't seem to be the case.

TheJinMu

beaner88 wrote: »

Take a step back for a second. You are worrying about not being able to do unpaid work. Move on and forget it.

I've been looking for paid work for over 6 months now and I have yet to even get an interview or receive replies to my C.V's. Even ones handed in personally. So this was really great to get! Even to get a response and then an interview was a change! So I don't think I am wrong in worrying over what was an internship where I was told they were taking the chosen intern on permanently! This could have been my career!

As for finding someone else, that is possible I suppose, but surely it would make more sense to just tell me, and plus, they wouldnt have had had their trial day by now...
Also, I have no idea why they didnt expect me in today! Its very odd, because we had agreed that as I was leaving on Friday! How could it be forgotten so fast!?

As for working there now, given another chance, I'm honestly not sure, but I'm not exactly in the position to deny work

Mrs OBumble

dorkacle wrote: »

But I was under the impression if you accept an offer (even just verbally - although its hard to prove) that they can't withdraw said offer. They could of before you had accepted but that doesn't seem to be the case.

With paid work, you're on probation for up to the first 12 months: you can be let go any time during this. I'd suspect that Jobridge is similar.

Balagan

It seems very likely that the JobBridge procedure was not followed at all by the host organization. It certainly does not provide for a 'trial period to see if you get on with the other staff' and you shouldn't have been working there at all until all necessary paperwork was done. Basically, if the host organizations is eligible to have a JobBridge Intern and you are eligible to take a JobBridge internship and the position is offered to you then you both do all the necessary paperwork, get the necessary clearances, and away you go. Short of having a tail suddenly growing out of your rear end or helping yourself to the contents of the till, there should be no reason not to give you a fair chance after choosing you. The entire period of the internship is supposed to be viewed as a trial period prior to offering you a job. My guess would be that the host organization turned out not to be eligible to have you there in the first place. Report them to JobBridge and then forget about them. Onwards and upwards and best of luck for the future!

starlit

I don't like the fact they gave you a sense of false hope of a job - they offered you the job, you took it which in my opinion is a binding contract but yes they are obliged to change their mind if they like. Its not a jobbridge that has to go ahead/or be done its of your own choosing to go for it and them to choose you. Totally voluntary but you think they jump at the chance to give you a trial run if they thought you were suited.

Either they interviewed someone since and thought they were the better candidate. I know myself I have been dogged like that a few times, someone offer me an interview and then don't bother they found someone else for the job which I think is unfair same story regarding your predicament.

Its very unfair of them to do that at such short notice when everything was signed sealed and delivered! You need your eyes wide open really, I find employers aren't as enthusiastic as they make out to be sometimes when it comes to jobbridge. I'd try to arrange an interview and they mess me about regarding setting a date for an interview. I feel I have to chase after them. Some are genuine others aren't and if I can't make it they don't bother to get in touch even if I say I am available such and such a date no good enough for them or an alternative such as a phone interview some are accommodating like that but others don't give a monkeys!

I'd report it to Social welfare and fas if you think they were messing you about and leading you astray by giving you false hope. Let it be an experience to you. I'd write a letter anyway to fas/social welfare about it that there should be some kind of rule/guideline if employers are doing this at a moments notice when all the red tape is done with then the job is yours for the taking. And these employers offering a jobbridge should get some kind of warning be fair or be square. If they don't abide by the terms and conditions then they shouldn't be allowed offer a jobbridge unless they genuine. Its fine if they changed their mind and decided to pull out of the jobbbridge that's perfectly acceptable and if a candidate does the same its their choice if they think the job isn't right for them.

I suppose just look elsewhere but you have a right to be picky I know I would be when choosing a suitable jobbridge, for me its more about the role, what I'd gain from it, is it a step to further my career, is it worth doing it and will I get the experience I need!? Location for me is important as well as I don't want to leave home just yet or to travel too far but like that now not much in my field and is limited in where I am. Not willing to move to a city doubt I could afford it like but might have to eventually. Go where the jobs are even thought its quiet limited at the moment despite all the job announcements! They still look for experience and grads are at a loss! Not fair!

Best of luck with your job search, maybe a better jobbridge might turn up and as I always say some things happen for a reason!!

Mrs OBumble

Balagan wrote: »

The entire period of the internship is supposed to be viewed as a trial period prior to offering you a job.

I agree with every sentence in Balagan's post .. except that one.

There is no expectation that a Jobridge employer will offer you a paying job at the end of the internship. The hope is that your expereince and contact with the industry will help you get a job with an employer - but not necessarily this one.

IMHO this is a bad policy. But it is the Irish government's policy, so worth being totally clear about it up front.

tatli_lokma

dorkacle wrote: »

Do you think they might have found someone else to fill the place over the weekend?
I don't mean that in a bad way, but would they have given the position to a family member etc?

AFAIK jobridge costs the employer nothing - they bascially get free labour, and the intern gets an extra €50 on top of their social welfare payment. So I think it is unlikely that they gave the job to someone else, unless they have a family member willing to work for free. I think it is more likely as Balagan says and they really didn't have a clue what they were getting into so just scrapped it.

OP did you get paid at all for your 'trial'? If not I would wonder if perhaps they are doing this to others also, to get free workers in the busy time. I know of a few salons and boutiques a few years ago who were discovered to be doing this. They would advertise for juniors for the run up to Christmas - they would call people in for 'trials', and would basically have a different person on 'trial' each day. The 'trials' were unpaid, and basically they got a tea-maker, floor sweeper-upper for free.

I am sorry to hear of your bad experience OP - it's very underhand and upsetting the way they treated you. Don't let it hold you back or get you down - you are better than this one bad experience. Try to keep the chin up and hopefully you will get a break soon.
Best of luck

Devi

Little Ted wrote: »

AFAIK jobridge costs the employer nothing - they bascially get free labour, and the intern gets an extra €50 on top of their social welfare payment. So I think it is unlikely that they gave the job to someone else, unless they have a family member willing to work for free. I think it is more likely as Balagan says and they really didn't have a clue what they were getting into so just scrapped it.

OP did you get paid at all for your 'trial'? If not I would wonder if perhaps they are doing this to others also, to get free workers in the busy time. I know of a few salons and boutiques a few years ago who were discovered to be doing this. They would advertise for juniors for the run up to Christmas - they would call people in for 'trials', and would basically have a different person on 'trial' each day. The 'trials' were unpaid, and basically they got a tea-maker, floor sweeper-upper for free.

I am sorry to hear of your bad experience OP - it's very underhand and upsetting the way they treated you. Don't let it hold you back or get you down - you are better than this one bad experience. Try to keep the chin up and hopefully you will get a break soon.
Best of luck

There’s a well known restaurant in a town in the midlandsthat does this. Takes people from out of town on for a day or two trials andthen never calls them again. Not a rumour, a man that works there permanentlytold me this directly. Sickening what’s going onthese days however I don’t think that that’s the case here.

TheJinMu

Little Ted wrote: »

OP did you get paid at all for your 'trial'? If not I would wonder if perhaps they are doing this to others also, to get free workers in the busy time. I know of a few salons and boutiques a few years ago who were discovered to be doing this. They would advertise for juniors for the run up to Christmas - they would call people in for 'trials', and would basically have a different person on 'trial' each day. The 'trials' were unpaid, and basically they got a tea-maker, floor sweeper-upper for free.

Wow, it never occurred to me that people would do that!! I got nothing, but they had said on Friday that they would discuss it with their partner about giving me something for the extra couple of days, which I was refusing since they seemed so genuine and that they couldn't necessarily afford that. It wasn't mentioned Monday when I was being gotten rid of though, oddly enough...

An email should suffice I think, that way I have a record of it and I know it will be delivered. I will send it this evening to JobBridge, maybe they will suggest telling S.W. or FAS as I'm not really sure who would be over this type of thing.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words! And for the advice! I will post here if/ when I get any sort of response, and fingers crossed something else comes up

CatFromHue

I'm not too sure the working 6 days would/should be acceptable.

It was my understanding that the hours were 30-40 per week.

TheJinMu

Yeah I worked that out to be about 4 and a half days with their hours. I dont think I would have been doing 6 days anyway, since he'd asked me which day I'd like off this week when he was asking me to start full time...

starlit

True there is no expectation or obligation that a jobbridge give someone a permanent job afterwards in the same role some candidates be very lucky for that to happen but the whole purpose of a jobbridge is to give people experience and to gain a permanent role somewhere else and I suppose they rather not pay to hire someone so they keep going with jobbridges until things pick up. Suppose give and take but more like one way if you ask me!

If they saying that we might give you a permanent role after this, I doubt I'd believe it as I have heard it many times before, they don't in the end! They move on they want another candidate and get in as much free labour as they can for as long as they can. Job costs money and to hire someone costs even more money they only try to save their backs by saving money in my opinion!

CuriousG

This happened to me before (salon rather than a barbers) and they basically said I had it etc, that it would take a few weeks to come through but could I start on the Saturday? So I went ahead, and as the day was over I overheard other staff there talking about their new intern. I was like oh, that must be me.

Nope, they actually hired someone else but they had a busy day that they needed someone extra, so instead of just asking me straight out, they used me for that one day and gave the job to the friend of another stylist.

I didn't bother reporting it, I just kept going and am now in a different line doing a work placement which I LOVE - so it was personally for the best.

I hope you find something soon, try not to be too disappointed.

uck51js9zml2yt

doovdela wrote: »

True there is no expectation or obligation that a jobbridge give someone a permanent job afterwards in the same role some candidates be very lucky for that to happen but the whole purpose of a jobbridge is to give people experience and to gain a permanent role somewhere else and I suppose they rather not pay to hire someone so they keep going with jobbridges until things pick up. Suppose give and take but more like one way if you ask me!

If they saying that we might give you a permanent role after this, I doubt I'd believe it as I have heard it many times before, they don't in the end! They move on they want another candidate and get in as much free labour as they can for as long as they can. Job costs money and to hire someone costs even more money they only try to save their backs by saving money in my opinion!

Firstly, they cant just take on intern after intern.

Secondly, I've just finished 6 months with a company and got a contract to start in January.
There is another guy who started before me and got a contract after his 6 months was up as well.

Granted, there are places using it for cheap labour but others are giving people a job out of it. What was said to me was that I treated the 6 months like a job and that swung it for me.

sligoface

The paperwork should have been done before you started OP, that is the way jobbridge works, and that could be the reason they didn't keep you on, they might not have been eligible.

Also, be wary of any places that don't give you paperwork up front or that ask you to do a 'trial'. A trial person is sometimes used to cover a busy day (like you said they were having), esp. if they are short staffed due to holidays, illness, etc. and they have no obligation to pay you since they didn't offer you a job. Sounds like this place wants to take people on trial and internships so they don't ever have to pay them.

Have to say it's a very unprofessional way of doing things, to tell an applicant, sure, you can do a trial, no worries, have them start work with no paperwork or training in place ('ah sure it'll be grand!). Happens in Ireland all the time though, especially in small businesses. Unfortunately, I've found that places that operate like this tend to be lax in their attitudes to many other areas as well, things like: paying you on time, paying you the full amount of hours worked, paying any accrued holiday time, notifying you of roster changes, reducing your hours at a moment's notice, sending out your P45 when you leave, etc. This mixture of incompetence and arrogance that some small business owners have that can really do a number on employees, especially younger, less confident ones, new hires, etc.

Also, 6 days a week is over the limit for job bridge if they were full 8 hr days because the jobbridge limit is 40 hrs. Another red flag.

I know christmas on the dole is really hard to afford, and the job market is dreadful right now but believe me you don't want to get stuck in a 9 month unpaid position with a company that cant bother to do professional things properly (the jobbridge paperwork is not even that complex!) This place was most likely only interested in free labor for themselves, not helping you learn new skills, and probably wouldn't have kept you on as paid afterwards even if you did well.

If you want to do a jobbridge internship, I would advise that you don't do one just for the extra 50 euro, as that money will disappear quickly each week when you are working (lunch, transport, work clothes, etc.). It's only worth it if you find one that provides you with the opportunity to get some real training and actually learn something that can get you a decent position somewhere. I'm not putting down reception work, I'm sure it's difficult in a busy place, but at the end of the day it's not usually a well paid job and in fairness how far can you stretch answering the phone and booking hair appointments on a CV? After a few months I'm sure you'd be able to do it in your sleep, but you won't be learning any thing new any more, and you'll be resenting that you are working for 50 quid a week while the receptionist at the salon down the street at least makes minimum wage.

Also, the fact that the owner's partner had no qualms about sticking their nose into their partner's business to the point that they felt it was appropriate to criticize an inexperienced, unpaid intern on her first phone call of her first day is a major red flag as well. This person possibly makes a habit of doing things like this and you might have had to put up with that on a regular basis.

You should be glad this place didn't take you. Something better will come up for you, it may take a while and it's hard to be patient but that's all you can do is keep trying and be patient.

Btw, having had a bad jobbridge experience myself, I can tell you there is little point in reporting them. They won't do much. Probably best to just move on.

TheJinMu

I really really appreciate everyones advice, thank you so much!! Its lovely to read such kind words from everyone
To Sligoface, I just want to point out that it would have been Barber training too, not just receptionist, which was why I was so excited-it would have been a career, something I could really work from

I'm still concerned they are pulling a fast one however, they still have it advertised on jobbridge! I suppose there is no harm in linking you to it now as he isn't going to be changing his mind now and as pointed out by Sligoface, there seems to be a lot of red flags going up about them, so I'm not interested even if he did. Its a long link, and bookmarks tend not to work for their site :P So I hope this works
http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=B+fomdowzS8kaDnSlUDk1zaMUPiFEeNrNWjviinu490thmC2C0u+DCK+GPSori6c21xlVztffBstWXiobEU5St9oexFOY89TYsr2zQe05RryY53umRd8eJPCNDBOTACmV/d8ukFDCYoF06JHMPW4uglz+gM/1MgwVpPM8eiKZ28f3LQBqYrQpzfTUZviavq/ow8UDgV62PzqTvOuJlJZb4FhGQeURHPHVfN07bQ8ZhxxRNP0inFiULGV43obrvpRQfmJiU6uyG+hXxDo2cRQbUdKr/A4vSVq63v9b/U6HHEv4NMoTrS5EI+cdYOdiqbFmoqZ3JbZujWecxS/m2zcKswfa8G1rELK24i0RpsvpUctLwBeskqHsF4v1u0hAPrMejsLYXf55W6O+oPCTE0TOf1+x+Nn+59NxvImlaMmZNcKnE5Lpuee/t6y95LZWxe5ZYa6ZdfwvaIEPIyVHE1hiny8YZwI3acB7udrpFCIvIQ=

I might call in to FAS this week and see what they say. I would at least like to ensure that they dont do this to other people and aren't taking the mick-this programme gets enough bad publicity as it is. Again, if anything new happens, I will post here, even for future reference for anyone else caught like this...

TheJinMu

So I got a reply from JobBridge:

"Thank you for your e-mail.

Please note, the selection n process is entirely between the company and the individual therefore we would not be in a position to comment on that.
However, it is a breach of the rules of the Scheme to start an intern before one’s eligibility has been confirmed by the local Social Welfare office. The onus is on the company and the individual to familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the scheme, all the information is available on www.jobbridge.ie

Though your experience of the JobBridge scheme to date has unfortunately been less than positive we would hope that the actions of isolated individuals would not deter you from pursuing future internship opportunities. Individuals may avail of a maximum of 2 JobBridge internships however, the total cumulative time cannot exceed 9 months (39 weeks) over the two year period. The scheme will run from the 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2013. Therefore, if an individual commences on a scheme on the 29th June 2013 for 6 months they will be allowed finish up to the expiry date 28th December 2013.

In the meantime, I will discuss your case with my manager to see what course of action we can take.

We hope the above is of assistance and wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Kind Regards
JobBridge Team"

Not unhelpful, not helpful... I'm liking the last part, discussing with manager. Probably the last I'll hear but at least they know now!

starlit

Look at it this way they at least responded to you whether or not they take action its hard to know. I just hope they will take some kind of action so that someone else doesn't have the same issue.

Sure I was all geared for an interview that I was promised one (it wasn't a jobbridge was a paid boring temporary office job) and didn't get the interview as the said person already had someone hired! Crazy it was a job I could have done with my eyes closed! So like from experience you aren't guaranteed a job even if you are promised one!

Its like one company offered me an internship in the other side of the country couldn't really move at the time had no means to. It was a role I did not want anyway and was short term so wasn't prepared to move to the other side of the country just for a month and my doubts were right, they went bust within weeks of that offer of an internship! My instinct is nearly always right!

Raven Sour Reindeer wrote: »

Firstly, they cant just take on intern after intern.

Secondly, I've just finished 6 months with a company and got a contract to start in January.
There is another guy who started before me and got a contract after his 6 months was up as well.

Granted, there are places using it for cheap labour but others are giving people a job out of it. What was said to me was that I treated the 6 months like a job and that swung it for me.

I don't know really I still think they just internships to fill in the gap in the labour force without paying people. I know they can only do that for so long but how long though, its often enough its places that can't afford to hire someone will keep doing that to keep costs of running a business down as much as possible and get profits at the same time.

Ya but its very rarely that happens I think you were just lucky, you treated it like a job cause its a job you wanted and they wanted you full time after because they were looking for someone like you to fill the role, you could have done another internship and might not have been the same! Everywhere is different. I think the only way jobbridges are successful is to stick with a discipline/area/field you want to work in whether its something you qualified in or have the skills/qualities/personality for.

If you haven't an interest in the area and they haven't an interest in you then it won't work out. I treated every job I have had mostly unpaid none of them jobbridges but one of which was paid and was an work placement and treated all of them like jobs but cause of the recession my paid job wasn't continued. Wasn't enough to get my foot in the door mind was less than a years work but I don't see how internships are any different to work placements/grad programmes do you really learn anything or are people doing it just for the sake of it? You need to really have your heart set on that area you want to work in for a jobbridge to swing your way not just treating it as a job.

There is no knowing how many places I have seen to keep doing the jobbridges once one finishes they move on and they have had them advertised over and over again the past year or so. So can't see where they will hire someone full time after rarely have heard of that to happen unless its a big company. They say oh with a view with a permanent position after I don't believe that for a second unless they met a candidate that fits the bill for the role full stop to give it them full time and paid.

Its like in the jobs section in the newspapers right they advertise stating so many jobs on offer in a particular new company how many of those jobs are irish how many of them are paid how many of them are unpaid/jobbridges!???

This hype of new jobs is just media hype in my opinion no different to jobbridges. Its false advertising they state oh a start up company have 100 jobs on offer in IT say, ya but how many really like when you weight up everything, still costs money to create a job, cost money to keep a jobbridge going as well as take someone on full time after and costs money to hire someone full time somewhere else that is a paid job? Some are already filled, how many of them are actually paid/unpaid/jobbridges/graduate/experienced roles!? How many of them are in Ireland and abroad and whats more you go onto their website they might only have only a quarter of those jobs on offer at the moment. Half of them in Ireland the other half abroad makes no sense!

OnTheCouch

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I had something similar happen to me earlier this year when I was offered a paid job and he sent me all the details via email, working hours, salary, length of probationary period etc.

This position involved moving countries, so I moved over, secured accommodation in preparation, only to be told that due to a few complications, my start date would be put back a few weeks.

Not ideal, but not the end of the world either I thought. Unfortunately, after this period had passed, he dropped the bombshell that because of other issues and problems he had (presumably financial) that he wouldn't be able to take me on after all and I should look for something else. This was fairly horrendous for me, especially having moved all my stuff over.

I did think that the email would serve as a binding contract, but after seeking advice from various parties, it turned out that he would only be in the wrong if I had commenced work. This is why I was very glad to read that there might still be something that can be done for you.

TheJinMu

OnTheCouch wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I had something similar happen to me earlier this year when I was offered a paid job and he sent me all the details via email, working hours, salary, length of probationary period etc.

This position involved moving countries, so I moved over, secured accommodation in preparation, only to be told that due to a few complications, my start date would be put back a few weeks.

Not ideal, but not the end of the world either I thought. Unfortunately, after this period had passed, he dropped the bombshell that because of other issues and problems he had (presumably financial) that he wouldn't be able to take me on after all and I should look for something else. This was fairly horrendous for me, especially having moved all my stuff over.

I did think that the email would serve as a binding contract, but after seeking advice from various parties, it turned out that he would only be in the wrong if I had commenced work. This is why I was very glad to read that there might still be something that can be done for you.

Now THAT is horrendous!!! And at the same time you're out of pocket for all the moving and travelling too! Thats disgusting and I'm really sorry to hear that happened to you!

I got another reply from them today;

"Just further to my previous e-mail, I have discussed the below with my manager. We have decided to forward your allegations to the organisation for their response and we are seeking your permission to do so. Can you please confirm same by return e-mail?"

I replied, telling them they can go ahead. I would be a lot happier if it could have been anonymous but thats not possible :P I just hope they dont ring me up giving out or I dont bump into them in town someday :P But it is nice to see they're doing something! And the advert is still up, though whether thats JobBridge or the companies fault I dont know...

doovdela You make some very valid points there too! Some new companies offer some internships in their own company (as in not through JobBridge) though, and thati a good thing too.

OnTheCouch

TheJinMu wrote: »

Now THAT is horrendous!!! And at the same time you're out of pocket for all the moving and travelling too! Thats disgusting and I'm really sorry to hear that happened to you!

Thanks for the sympathy. I am OK now, have got over it and moved on, but it really hit me for six at the time and took at least a month (if not longer) for me to stop thinking about it constantly. I wasted around 1000 euros in the whole venture and this could have been an awful lot more, me not having many possessions and a sympathetic landlord helped to keep the total cost from spiralling out of control.

Have you heard any more about your situation in the past week?

Regards,

OTC

TheJinMu

OnTheCouch wrote: »

Have you heard any more about your situation in the past week?

Regards,

OTC

Got an email this morning simply saying:
"We have forwarded your e-mail to our regional management for their attention and they will be in touch with you in due course."

Ha ha, I thought they were going to contact the organisation, not another manager :P
But we'll see what happens!

TheJinMu

So now!
A lady from FAS in my area rang yesterday, she had sent my email on to the organisation and gotten a response from them. She said they basically said the same as they'd said to me, that it didn't work out. So she sent them another email basically outlining in writing what they'd done wrong-to improve their interviews, not tell someone they have it when they aren't 100% certain, that they HAVE to get permission and make sure the potential intern is eligible etc BEFORE even a trial day occurs (that was the biggest thing they did wrong). No money should exchange hands (remember they'd offered to pay me for the trial days-which I had refused) If social welfare had of seen/ heard I was there and got paid, even if it was going to be under JobBridge, the company would be fined and my money would be stopped under the basis that it would have been considered undeclared (or whatever you want to call it) work...

They basically got a bit of a telling off for not going by the rules- it shows the whole thing IS being monitored, and they were informed exactly how it should be done. So if nothing else at least it stops them making the same mistakes again, since if another complaint was made against them they'd be banned from the scheme indefinitely.

All in all, I have to say I'm impressed with the result I got from JobBridge- I (and I'm sure many others) was skeptical I would even get a response, but fair play to them, they investigated it and did all they could! She even said how she hopes it doesn't discourage me from doing another, and was very sympathetic at how it all worked out and how crappy it was on me.

Again, thanks very much to everyone for the support, we got a result in the end! Now all I need is to find another place to hire me!

Happy New Year to you all!