On Vtos but offered amazing work experience

nicolo

I recently started a VTOS course doing a level 5 fetac.
I've already got a Hnd and BA and a fetac level 5 and 6 from previous courses so I'm not in need of the qualification itself so much but it offers training in areas that I felt I could definitely improve on.
I'm about two weeks into the course and I've been offered a months unpaid work as an intern in my dream company.
I've no idea if it will lead on to better work but the contacts/experience alone would be priceless, however it's full time work and I'd have to miss college for a month.
I'm currently relying on VTOS as my sole means of income but this is almost too good of an opportunity to pass up.
my question is, first of all what would you do?
secondly does anyone know of any way I could postpone the course or miss the time/ catch up (which I'd be well able to do)
if I sign off vtos and this work experience doesn't lead to work would i have difficulty signing back on the normal welfare?

any help appreciated, I would much prefer to be working an this seems like a good opportunity but on the other side I can't afford to lose the income i have from VTOS

MouseTail

Speak to your VTOS coordinator. I assume you are doing a work experience module as part of your course, you could use this internship for that module.

You will need notes, assignments etc emailed to you in order to keep up.
I dont see any reason why they cannot accommodate you, but they are not obliged to. It all depends how flexible they are really.

Good luck!

confuseddotcom

IF I recall with last FETAC Course I did, some people left of their own accord through personal reasons or that the Course wasn't for them etc., some left as they got a job. Some wanted to try and keep up the Course as well as working but they weren't allowed to, I guess it was a case of either being fully on the Course or not, one or the other, might be messy otherwise. Which I suppose I can understand in a way as a Jobseeker should rightfully be actively seeking and available for taking up Full-time work. VTOS might be able to give you some flexibility to some way continue your Course though, definitely ask them.

But I was just thinking, if you just sign off the Course, and re-apply for Jobseeker's Payment not an Education Payment, you would still be able to take up the Intern Position in a volunteering mode until such a time as a job comes along which may or may not be a while yet so it could turn out that you get a good few month's experience in this Company. So long as you still apply for jobs, and can prove this when asked by D.S.P. everything should be above board.

There may or may not be a few weeks at the start of the Application process forfeited where you're not allowed any Jobseeker's money due to leaving the Course of your own accord so be aware of that. Also, in some instances your Local Office can fast-track ya back onto a Jobseeker's Payment for someone with genuine reasons for leaving early returning back onto Jobseeker's.

Once ya have your Jobseeker's Application in, go see your Community Welfare Officer located in your local Health Centre, ring first to find out which days they are there (and save a wasted drive to be told they're not there that day! ) and they hopefully should be able to to set you up with basic payment until your Jobseeker's Payment is approved and comes through. I think the basic payment is a couple of euro's lower than standard Jobseeker's rate but double-check this.

Don't know how long Jobseeker's Applications processing is taking at the moment, I think there is a Thread here somewhere with current Waiting times for different Offices around the counties. But aside from the couple of weeks at the start initial money which may or may not have to be forfeited where ya left the Course of your own accord, if you go on the basic pay from your Community Welfare Office this should see you through until your Jobseeker's Application is approved. And you should be able to do the Intern as volunteering in the meanwhile, until such a time as you effectively get any full-time work. You would still be considered to be "actively seeking and available for full-time work" while volunteering until such a time as any job is offered to you.