The Job Hunt - CE Scheme? Apprenticeship?

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Ok so I recently posted about how I could make my CV more attractive to potential employers as the only previous experience I have is from Transition Year in secondary school.

But now, what I've found is how much a pain in the arse this CE Scheme and Apprenticeship craic is. I'm 18. Fair enough I've never had to pay tax, but I've never tried to claim unemployment benefit before, because I am so young and I have not put anything towards it so why should I be entitled to receive it, right?

That being said, because I haven't been on the live register, I cannot apply for so many of these jobs as they are apprenticeships or on the CE Scheme and some of them are absolutely ridiculous.

Businesses are taking advantage of this schemes being offered by the government so they don't have to pay their staff. Admittedly, they are a good idea in certain trades that take a hands on approach to their work, but does a local bookstore really need apprentices? Shocking and it's leaving young people like me out of potential jobs that can get us started up on our adult lives!

I realise this is a rant and by all means you're entitled to disagree with me, but I kind of feel robbed, and I know my peers and other young adults feel the same way.

Damn government.

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Also, I don't know if this thread is in the right place...I just put it in the same as my last one. Mods feel free to move it if needs be.

thoker

Your 18
you have no skills or any experience so who would hire you?

Best advice do an apprenticeship, Aer Lingus advertised recently or just go to Australia and lastly Don't do a BA till your 25

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You don't understand. That's what I'm saying, I want to be able to do an apprenticeship but I can't because I'm not on the live register.
That's what's so frustrating about this whole thing.

Also, I have skills and experience, its just that because my experience was unpaid it's looked upon in a different way, giving me less of a chance. And why would I wait until I was 25 to do a BA, when there are no jobs to keep me going now? The whole country is telling my generation to stay in college for as long as we can

Mrs OBumble

I think you're a bit confused. What you cannot do 'cos you're not on the live register is a JobBridge scheme. But really they're best for people with qualifications and no experience.

Apprenticeships are different - they're a combination of on the job and formal education in certain trades, eg
Agricultural Mechanics*
Aircraft Mechanics*
Brick and Stonelaying
Carpentry & Joinery
Construction Plant Fitting*
Electrical*
Electrical Instrumentation*
Electronic Security Systems*
Farriery
Floor & Wall Tiling*
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics*
Industrial Insulation
Instrumentation*
MAMF*
Metal Fabrication
Motor Mechanics*
Painting & Decorating*
Plastering
Plumbing*
Print Media*
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning*
Sheet Metalworking
Toolmaking
Vehicle Body Repairs*
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing

-- more about them here: http://fas.ie/en/Training/Apprenticeships/default.htm



But really - what do you want to work at for the rest of you life?

And is it Galway specific (in which case it makes sense to leave it here) or would you go elsehwere, in which case either Work and Job or the Leaving Cert - Careers subforum might be a better bet.

biko

I moved it over from Galway City as it didn't seem region specific.
You'll get better general advice in Work.

MouseTail

Mrs O'Bumble is right, you are getting confused between apprenticeships and internships.

An apprenticeship is an alternative to college, but as well as going to college, you learn on the job. Apprentices are paid good wages, they are mostly for manual but skilled trades, and can be very hard to get these days.

Internships are work placements where you get an additional €50 on top of your dole. They can be great if you have the education, but not the work experience, and you need on the job training.

They are not so great when they are used for unskilled work such as cleaning, waiting etc.

kissmequick

Golly. The thoughts of an 18 y.o. coming outta School now trying to find some work when most jobs are under a lowly-paid / non-paid Scheme / Programme anymore is quite worrying. Had never looked at it that way. I do hope you find something. Supermarkets are always a good bet at this age, and if you decide to take up College at some point, they might still give a few hours here and there and you will be thankful for those couple of hours! Speak with someone in your Local FÁS Office about Trades and Apprenticeships and they should be able to help you or point ya in the right direction.