How long does it take to start on the JobBridge scheme?

LMellows

I know you have to have been on the dole for 6 months, but are there any extra steps in involved because it's JB and not a real job where you're an paid honest wage?

Also are you free to leave it at any time, or do you need a good reason i.e. a real job lined up?

manutd4life

You have to be on the dole for 3 months, as far as I know.

Usually the company will have to register the vacancy with Jobbridge and fill in your details on a form which they will then give to you to hand into to your local social welfare office. Once the welfare office authenticates it,you're ready to go.

From what I know, the company has to give you time off to attend interviews for paid positions and you have to give a weeks notice before you leave. Could someone clear that up?

Martinnr1

manutd4life wrote: »

You have to be on the dole for 3 months, as far as I know.

Usually the company will have to register the vacancy with Jobbridge and fill in your details on a form which they will then give to you to hand into to your local social welfare office. Once the welfare office authenticates it,you're ready to go.

From what I know, the company has to give you time off to attend interviews for paid positions and you have to give a weeks notice before you leave. Could someone clear that up?

You get all your entitlements as an employee, including holidays. What you dont get is paid.
You can also leave anytime you like but you must give a weeks notice to the employer, unless you are instructed to leave immediately by JB after reporting the employer for breeches of the JB Scheme.

LMellows

Other than the lack of wages, how does it compare to being a regular employee. Are you given the full hours and expected to fulfil them? Or would you get sent home the odd time if things were quiet? Being honest I think expecting people to work five day weeks for no money is a bit much. I know you get the €50 extra but unless I found somewhere walking distance I would be spending more than that on travel + lunch.

Martinnr1

LMellows wrote: »

Other than the lack of wages, how does it compare to being a regular employee. Are you given the full hours and expected to fulfil them? Or would you get sent home the odd time if things were quiet? Being honest I think expecting people to work five day weeks for no money is a bit much. I know you get the €50 extra but unless I found somewhere walking distance I would be spending more than that on travel + lunch.

You are required to work between 30 to 40 hours a week. Internships are supposed to be for the purpose of providing training and experience but rarely are. You may be required to carry out the same duties as paid employees, sometimes with more responsibility, but rarely treated the same.

I suggest you look at scambridge.ie before you go any further with this. I am not saying you should not consider JB internships, but make sure you understand the scheme fully first. I speak from personal experience and I wish I had.

LMellows

Martinnr1 wrote: »

You are required to work between 30 to 40 hours a week. Internships are supposed to be for the purpose of providing training and experience but rarely are. You may be required to carry out the same duties as paid employees, sometimes with more responsibility, but rarely treated the same.

I should clarify I would rather not be treated the same. Ideally I'd be treated as an unpaid intern i.e. given training/mentoring and experience but not expected to work full days for a full week because lets face it, even people who are being paid don't want to do that...

I suggest you look at scambridge.ie before you go any further with this. I am not saying you should not consider JB internships, but make sure you understand the scheme fully first. I speak from personal experience and I wish I had.

Oh I know it's a complete scam and should be illegal but I have no choice, do I? Every job that I see advertised that I am fully able to do requires experience. Why would an employer offer a job when they could get in some free labour (other than having a sense of basic decency).

As it is I'm sitting on my hole becoming less and less employable so I have no other choice and the situation won't change until the whole thing is ruled illegal, but who is going to do that when it benefits the moneymen and makes unemployment figures look better?

bullseye2010

You have to be on the dole for no less than 78 days. The company will usually wait for you to become eligible if you haven't reached this number but ask them to be sure. Treat it like a normal job. It might lead onto a proper one. I did one with a struggling company and was treated okay. It is easier to get interviews after doing an internship. You can leave it at any time and take time off for job interviews etc. Most companies use JobBridge to fill temporary vacancies. Companies that use it tend to be in financial trouble so don't get too downbeat if there is no job at the end of it.

LMellows

This is why I'm trying to be careful with where I choose to apply. Doing an internship with an established company is one thing, but doing it with a small, independent, struggling business isn't exactly going to jump out to any future employers.

When literally the only value in working is for "invaluable" (:rolleyes::rolleyes:) experience, it does become a major factor.