Work Placement (PEP)

DeeTee100

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with work placements in NUIG? Does the student get any say in where they are placed? If not, would you you generally be given something in the Galway area or can it be anywhere in the country?

I think it could be an issue getting accommodation for the summer months, particularly if I end up somewhere unfamiliar.

I'm doing an internship at home (Donegal) this summer, so would it be a better option to try to get them to take me back for the placement? I think I have to inform the college in September if I do so.

Any input would be appreciated.

leeroybrown

If you're in a position to arrange a decent paid placement somewhere then you should arrange to do that. Unless things have change the placement office will require you to attend any interview you're offered and further require you to accept the placement if offered regardless of it suiting you or not. Also, depending on results, luck, etc there's also no guaranteed of a paid placement. Some students seem to be getting two month unpaid internships instead of the full five month work placement.

Ursula Cisa

This is very interesting. If you know of anybody who wants to have an internship unpaid in Galway. Let me know. I know plenty of people who would be very happy of having some help for the summer in their businesses.

Nailz

I'm on one now currently and it was sorted pretty swiftly using the PEP system via the CDC. If you're good at college results-wise, can put together a pretty nifty CV, and manage to impress in an interview (more luck than anything else) you have an awesome chance of getting paid placement; but of course that also depends on your course too.

The one thing about the PEP system is that if you get an interview and they offer you a job you have to take that job, the first job offer you get is the one you must take, so you don't have the freedom to choose whether you'd actually want to work there or not. If you do refuse to take the first offer the CDC will stop helping you find jobs and you'll no longer be able to find jobs on the PEP portal, meaning that you'll then have to find a job yourself.

I understand that accommodation is a major concern with regard to placement, especially if it's a short placement of 6 months, because most landlords in Dublin (where most internships will be) aren't usually willing to do leases for less than a year, not to mention it's hard to find suitable accommodation in Dublin in general.

So generally it depends on where you are applying and where those jobs are located. I was lucky as my housemates and I managed to negotiate a bit with our landlord and he gave us short term lease as opposed to the year advertised, so you could always try and do that if all else fails.

DeeTee100

Thanks for the info.

shruikan2553

There is a website that has jobs put on it. You click to apply (your CV is on this website) and then you either get notified of an interview or not. You must attend the interview and if they offer you the job you must take it. Its a complete pain in the ass and the system could be better but they are just trying to get a job for as many people as possible even if it doesnt suit the person. Getting a landlord to take us for 5 months wasnt easy, we had to take whatever we could get.

They say you have to let them know in September but in practice you have a few months.