'forced' internships

mountsky

Seriously contemplating making a complaint to the ombudsman re:fas person contacting me practically forcing internships down my throat,as it is I am actively seeking work,I have my degree.I have had interviews,in fact I have another one this week,I am doing my utmost to find a job,I feel under serious pressure from the person who contacted me when in fact all they want to do is massage the figures.
When questioned as regards what the internship was I was told the details were "confidential", I mean they expect me to forward CV for something that I don't even know what it is
I am furious, any useful advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

Tail Docker

Fas have an Ombudsman? And are still Fas?

Stheno

mountsky wrote: »

Seriously contemplating making a complaint to the ombudsman re:fas person contacting me practically forcing internships down my throat,as it is I am actively seeking work,I have my degree.I have had interviews,in fact I have another one this week,I am doing my utmost to find a job,I feel under serious pressure from the person who contacted me when in fact all they want to do is massage the figures.
When questioned as regards what the intetnship I was told the details were "confidential", I mean they expect me to forward CV for something that I don't even know what it is
I am furious, any useful advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

How long are you on benefits?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I suggest asking here OP; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=861

As you will be eaten alive in After Hours

I don't think it's fair to be asked for your CV without telling you what it is for. That's just weird. Is it a specific internship or are they just asking you for your CV to match an internship for you?

IF I were you, I would use every single opportunity to get a job. You won't get very far on a degree alone. Work experience is absolutely essential. Take it, use it, learn all you can and continue to work for a job while you are at it. It shows initiative and willingness to learn/progress.

hfallada

OP I know you aren't thrilled about this internship. But the fact is if you are long term unemployed, your degree is a piece of paper to a potential employer. The biggest burden to getting a job is not lack of skills or experience, but lack of relevant experience. If you are unemployed for more the 6 months, the chances of you finding a job are very slim. See the internship as a step to a decent job because without recent experience, you aren't going to get a job too easily

Tombi!

They can make you apply to them.
They cannot guarantee you will be hired.

kneemos

If you say no to these people they'll report you to social welfare.
Might be seem as a refusal of a job offer.

Even in the boom times they had the bottom of the barrel jobs,God knows what they're like now.

mountsky

Stheno wrote: »

How long are you on benefits?

Less than one year

mountsky

The bit that teeeed me off was when I enquired about what the internship was for,I was told it was confidential, like come on,ffs

Bongalongherb

Tail Docker wrote: »

Fas have an Ombudsman? And are still Fas?

The FAS name was changed to Solas because of the corruption and robbery of taxpaying citizens monies. FAS heads were ingratiating and lubricating themselves with monies that were stolen from the tax-paying citizen, obviously, so the previous government tried to stealth-cover the old corrupt name by giving it a new name - called Solas.

They cannot force you to do jobsbridge, but they can force you to do a course instead. So, basically you have two options...Take a course, or do jobsbridge, there is no other way. It's one or the other realistically speaking.

mountsky

Bongalongherb wrote: »

The FAS name was changed to Solas because of the corruption and robbery of taxpaying citizens monies. FAS heads were ingratiating and lubricating themselves with monies that were stolen from the tax-paying citizen, obviously, so the previous government tried to stealth-cover the old corrupt name by giving it a new name - called Solas.

They cannot force you to do jobsbridge, but they can force you to do a course instead. So, basically you have two options...Take a course, or do jobsbridge, there is no other way. It's one or the other realistically speaking.

When I met the FAS officer a number of months ago I was told "oh,very gooooood,you have a degree", I just said yes, indeed it is...
Its a paid job I need not some bs intetnship,I am furious and insulted to think they can muck people around like this,to say its degrading is an understatement

Bongalongherb

Don't forget, if you do not want to do Jobsbridge.. 'if it is not suitable for you' then you can simply tell your Solas adviser that it is not suitable for you. Pick a course that you are interested in that could benefit you personally. Best of luck.

worded

Do a spud interview

Trainspotting spud´s interview - YouTube
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LsL2Zp7xOwY

https://www.google.ie/search?q=spud+job+interview&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

the_syco

mountsky wrote: »

I have my degree.

What's it a degree in, and what grade did you get? Also, are you on linkedin?

worded

At interview congratulate the organisation for their choice of shinny floors and tell them you look forward to sliding along them.

True situations

Was at an interview for a job once and staff looked v stressed, I realised I had no interest in working there. I was asked what was my greatest strength and I replied juggling :-)

I was interview in a small board room with a huge table.
So what would you think of working here?
I said i could get used to an office like this.

Needless to say there was no job offer :-)

mountsky

the_syco wrote: »

What's it a degree in, and what grade did you get? Also, are you on linkedin?

Yes,1:1

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

mountsky wrote: »

When I met the FAS officer a number of months ago I was told "oh,very gooooood,you have a degree", I just said yes, indeed it is...
Its a paid job I need not some bs intetnship,I am furious and insulted to think they can muck people around like this,to say its degrading is an understatement

Your attitude is diplorable. I wouldn't hire you at all with that kind of thinking.

You expect to come out of college with a degree and the world will just throw jobs at you?

Unless you have a degree in computer science or the likes, you are going to find it very difficult to get a paid job.

Get off your high horse and work to get a paid job. What have you actually done apart from earning your degree to get a job?

FAS, Solas, whatever they are called now, should tell you what is involved in the internship. If they do not, tell them you are not interested and look for something else.

The_Captain

mountsky wrote: »

Yes,1:1

A degree in Yes. Don't know if there's many jobs in that sector right now

Beano

The_Captain wrote: »

A degree in Yes. Don't know if there's many jobs in that sector right now

There are always jobs for yes men.

Foxhound38

mountsky wrote: »

Seriously contemplating making a complaint to the ombudsman re:fas person contacting me practically forcing internships down my throat,as it is I am actively seeking work,I have my degree.I have had interviews,in fact I have another one this week,I am doing my utmost to find a job,I feel under serious pressure from the person who contacted me when in fact all they want to do is massage the figures.
When questioned as regards what the internship was I was told the details were "confidential", I mean they expect me to forward CV for something that I don't even know what it is
I am furious, any useful advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

Work experience trumps the degree at this stage OP. I'd just do it if I were you - if you find a job while you're on it, take it and there's nothing lost shur. If you don't, you might get offered something with the place you're doing the internship if you impress. Even if not, the experience will make you far more attractive to potential employers. Besides, if it's a jobsbridge you do get the extra 50 a week, no more signing on and you get the money in the bank each week.

Internships are a pain in the hole - no argument there (I'm on one myself) - but they do seem to be a reality now and I'm not sure the genie is going to be put back in the bottle now. Might as well make the most of it and try to rack up some experience.

barneyrubble46

yep just send in your cv and see what the internship is about, I too have a degree and more than 30 years working, i too got of my high horse over 2 years ago and there are not many jobs out there, particulary if you live outside dublin. In fact it would be fair to say I would be happy to scrub out the local gents toilet after kicking out time if it meant getting a wage, until you have been made unemployed you just dont get it!!!!!!!!!!!

Foxhound38

mountsky wrote: »

When I met the FAS officer a number of months ago I was told "oh,very gooooood,you have a degree", I just said yes, indeed it is...
Its a paid job I need not some bs intetnship,I am furious and insulted to think they can muck people around like this,to say its degrading is an understatement

There's thousands more like you with the same shiny degrees looking for jobs, and the fact of the matter is that the ones who slog through the internship to gain some experience and do whatever it is they have to do are the ones that will get the paid jobs. It's not 2006 - a sense of entitlement will get you nowhere right now.

RoboRat

hfallada wrote: »

OP I know you aren't thrilled about this internship. But the fact is if you are long term unemployed, your degree is a piece of paper to a potential employer. The biggest burden to getting a job is not lack of skills or experience, but lack of relevant experience. If you are unemployed for more the 6 months, the chances of you finding a job are very slim. See the internship as a step to a decent job because without recent experience, you aren't going to get a job too easily

So true. I done my degree and took my first job for £15,000 p/a back in 2000, it had little to do with my degree but it was a job. I had to rent as it was 200km from my home and basically lived hand to mouth for the first year but I done it because it was the only way to get a foot on the ladder.

I stayed back late every night training myself and taking any course I could get on - If they were paying me peanuts, I was making up for it with the amount they were spending on training me but it facilitated me moving to a better job, then a better job and then to my current position.

Far too many grads coming out looking for the perfect job straight away, truth is that you will have to work through a lot of **** jobs to get the one you like.

barneyrubble46

I am not a grad and I don't have a job, what really annoys me is companys that advertis for graduate positions, what the hell is wrong with old timers like me who will work hard and not complain, over 30 years work experience is not to be sniffed at. I hope my internship works out for me, but if it dos'ent at least i know I gave it my best shot. more power to my keyboard lol the only way is up kiddo

RoboRat

I am not a grad and I don't have a job, what really annoys me is companys that advertis for graduate positions, what the hell is wrong with old timers like me who will work hard and not complain, over 30 years work experience is not to be sniffed at. I hope my internship works out for me, but if it dos'ent at least i know I gave it my best shot. more power to my keyboard lol the only way is up kiddo

I would 100% take on somebody with relevant work experience and a hard working attitude over a graduate any day. I think the internships are a good idea when they are not abused (and there are some companies that are abusing it). If you knuckle down, work hard and make yourself as indispensable as possible a company would be mad not to take you on.

Best of luck with it old timer :-)

mountsky

The point is that the FAS person wouldn't tell me what it was, very simple

mountsky

The_Captain wrote: »

A degree in Yes. Don't know if there's many jobs in that sector right now

Im not at liberty to divulge that information your honour!I refuse to give out my details on a public forum

Rubberchikken

strange that they won't tell what the internship is - maybe secret service;)

apply for it if you can get further info from them, if nothing else it gets them off your back. there's no guarantee of getting it btw.

and keep interviewing and applying for jobs. good luck

mountsky

Rubberchikken wrote: »

strange that they won't tell what the internship is - maybe secret service;)

apply for it if you can get further info from them, if nothing else it gets them off your back. there's no guarantee of getting it btw.

and keep interviewing and applying for jobs. good luck

I was told it was confidential!Unreal,I am still waiting on the FAS person to let me know what it is,so,maybe the person thought it was something suitable and now realises it wasn't,who knows

The_Captain

barneyrubble46 wrote: »

I am not a grad and I don't have a job, what really annoys me is companys that advertis for graduate positions, what the hell is wrong with old timers like me who will work hard and not complain, over 30 years work experience is not to be sniffed at. I hope my internship works out for me, but if it dos'ent at least i know I gave it my best shot. more power to my keyboard lol the only way is up kiddo

In my experience, graduate position means low paying rather than only for fresh out of college young folks.
I have seen one company though (might have been IBM) that specified that anyone finished college for more than 24 months would not be considered for a graduate position.

mountsky wrote: »

Im not at liberty to divulge that information your honour!I refuse to give out my details on a public forum

The field your degree is in is hardly personal details. You can hardly expect much sympathy for not having a job when your degree could be something like Communications from an IT

mountsky

The_Captain wrote: »

In my experience, graduate position means low paying rather than only for fresh out of college young folks.
I have seen one company though (might have been IBM) that specified that anyone finished college for more than 24 months would not be considered for a graduate position


The field your degree is in is hardly personal details. You can hardly expect much sympathy for not having a job when your degree could be something like Communications from an IT

I dont recall mentioning 'sympathy'. That's it though jeanie, go you!Spot on,fair play to ya and well done

SoSheSaid

The_Captain wrote: »

You can hardly expect much sympathy for not having a job when your degree could be something like Communications from an IT

Why's that then? There are TONS of jobs you can apply for using skills from a Communications qualification. Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Recruitment... In fact recruitment would be a great one to go for as they take on grads and train them up. Plus the commission adds on to the lower basic (which is still usually at least 23k). Granted it's tough work, but you can build careers out of all of those position and everyone needs a starting point. There are also tons of 'add on' courses he could do to complement a Comms BA, such as digital marketing or web design; many of which I'm sure he can get funded.

The_Captain

SoSheSaid wrote: »

Why's that then? There are TONS of jobs you can apply for using skills from a Communications qualification. Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Recruitment... In fact recruitment would be a great one to go for as they take on grads and train them up. Plus the commission adds on to the lower basic (which is still usually at least 23k). Granted it's tough work, but you can build careers out of all of those position and everyone needs a starting point. There are also tons of 'add on' courses he could do to complement a Comms BA, such as digital marketing or web design; many of which I'm sure he can get funded.

Apply for and get are two different things.

Personally I reckon OPs lack of employment may be due more to their piss poor attitude than anything else. If you're unemployed and fresh out of college you shouldn't be refusing an internship right off the bat without even finding out where it's for

mountsky

The_Captain wrote: »

Apply for and get are two different things.

Personally I reckon OPs lack of employment may be due more to their piss poor attitude than anything else. If you're unemployed and fresh out of college you shouldn't be refusing an internship right off the bat without even finding out where it's for

Which part of I do not have any details for said Internship do you not understand?I wouldn't be so quick to judge anyone in fact without knowing the story first,ya

shruikan2553

In my experience of this forum the people who don't say anything about what area their degree is in tend to be the people who have a degree in Irish literature or history of pumpkin farming in north Korea.

Somehow they have no idea why they can't get a job in the area.

RoboRat

pumpkin farming in north Korea

Its a seasonal degree.... but when coupled with indigenous evergreen topping studies and the principals of coco engineering it can be an all year round profession.

Greenmachine

I think there has been quite a few nasty post directed towards the op. That I think are a little unwarranted. I must admit I would be reluctant to submit my cv, for a job, neigh an internship, I know nothing about. How the hell are you supposed to market yourself. The demands I see for job applicants these days are outrageous, deli assistant, minimum 3 years experience.
We don't know yet how long ago the op has graduated.
Maybe we should make it a legal requirement that one must do an intership, before they can legally do any paid work, that would surely please, all the condescending high horse brigade.

SoSheSaid

OP, work out what it is you want to do. Then work your way down the chain to where you have a chance of getting a foot in the door, and apply, and apply, and apply. In the meantime, take whatever job you can get that will give you a bit of cash; you'll know it's not forever because you'll be applying for other positions, it's just to keep you going. No sense in taking an internship for something you've no interest in forging a career in, so I agree with you on that one. But there's no harm in taking an old job for the interim, once you have a plan in place to get to where you want to be.

Warper

They should treat people with dignity and at least pay them the minimum wage, its called minimum for a reason

Zillah

Carter Silly Pinto wrote: »

Your attitude is diplorable. I wouldn't hire you at all with that kind of thinking.

You expect to come out of college with a degree and the world will just throw jobs at you?

Unless you have a degree in computer science or the likes, you are going to find it very difficult to get a paid job.

Get off your high horse and work to get a paid job. What have you actually done apart from earning your degree to get a job?

FAS, Solas, whatever they are called now, should tell you what is involved in the internship. If they do not, tell them you are not interested and look for something else.

It's one thing to concede that in the current environment that people might end up having to do unpaid work to get their CV up a bit, it's another thing entirely to wade in with the smug, dismissive attitude declaring that working for free to have a chance at a job is perfectly normal and respectable.

Anyone that expects anyone to work for free is a scumbag in my opinion, and people who hurl the above get off your high horse crap are almost as bad. How on earth is it fair to accuse someone of being on a high horse when they expect to be paid for a days work?

Do we think there should be a bloody peasant class in society?

OP if you don't take the internship will they reduce/stop your benefits?

Iwasfrozen

Warper wrote: »

They should treat people with dignity and at least pay them the minimum wage, its called minimum for a reason

Why should a company pay people minimum wage and pay for their training?

If you force them to always pay minimum wage they're going to be reluctant to take anyone on.

ebbsy

mountsky wrote: »

Seriously contemplating making a complaint to the ombudsman re:fas person contacting me practically forcing internships down my throat,as it is I am actively seeking work,I have my degree.I have had interviews,in fact I have another one this week,I am doing my utmost to find a job,I feel under serious pressure from the person who contacted me when in fact all they want to do is massage the figures.
When questioned as regards what the internship was I was told the details were "confidential", I mean they expect me to forward CV for something that I don't even know what it is
I am furious, any useful advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

The_Captain

The_Captain wrote: »

In my experience, graduate position means low paying rather than only for fresh out of college young folks.
I have seen one company though (might have been IBM) that specified that anyone finished college for more than 24 months would not be considered for a graduate position.

Graduate pay is often quite good actually and many companies want people within a year out of University when they advertise "graduate" positions. Intel, cisco and many other multinationals to name but a few.

The reason being is they want people fresh people who haven't learned "how its done" in another company and what to train up the person in their company's way of doing things from day one.

RoboRat

Anyone that expects anyone to work for free is a scumbag in my opinion, and people who hurl the above get off your high horse crap are almost as bad. How on earth is it fair to accuse someone of being on a high horse when they expect to be paid for a days work?

Internships are about training. That training is given by the employers, well its supposed to be. The intern gets trained and gets real life work experience. If the employer is doing it right, its no easy job and its not free work but unfortunately some employers are using it as a way to get free labour.

I have trained 2 interns, one was offered a job but declined due to pregnancy, the other is still in training and will probably be offered a job (only here a month and a half). I can tell you that they have learned more in the 6 months they were with me than they learned in the 3 years they were in college and it has taken a lot of my time to do this. I don't consider myself a scumbag.

Greenmachine

RoboRat wrote: »

Internships are about training. That training is given by the employers, well its supposed to be. The intern gets trained and gets real life work experience. If the employer is doing it right, its no easy job and its not free work but unfortunately some employers are using it as a way to get free labour.

I have trained 2 interns, one was offered a job but declined due to pregnancy, the other is still in training and will probably be offered a job (only here a month and a half). I can tell you that they have learned more in the 6 months they were with me than they learned in the 3 years they were in college and it has taken a lot of my time to do this. I don't consider myself a scumbag.

Catching name.

RoboRat

Greenmachine wrote: »

Catching name.

???

playedalive

OP your scenario with Solas sounds really weird. It seems like they are just trying to massage the figures to make it look good (for their Department) that you're doing a course or scambridge. I got the same letters to go to meetings with them via Department of Social Protection and I just had to go to them, one of which was working out how to get employment. On the one hand, it was meant well as I had finished my degree, wanted to say in Dublin and was trying to find something with my languages degree. On the other hand, they weren't that helpful and were a waste of time and money to get to. There's a lot of wastage in Solas imo.

I hope you manage to find something. Maybe next time you're signing on, print and show all the documents of all the interviews you've done. Ask in your signing office if they can give them a call to get them off your back. At the end of the day, it's the Dept of Social Protection that tells Solas/Intreo to get on your back. If you genuinely prove you're working hard and that these internships/courses are just worthless, they might do something about it. when I was unemployed in Dublin and looking, one of the lads down in my office cancelled all this crap because I was genuinely honest about what was going on (receiving letters for silly appointments). I think it should be you to decide if the Internship is for you. From another 20 something to another, I can tell you if you can get any work experience, take it. If there is a good position on Jobbridge, it should be your choice to go for it.

Penny Tration

OP, do you have relevant work experience in your chosen field?

If yes, keep on job hunting.

If no, do an internship.

People don't just walk out of college and into a job anymore.

When I finished college, I walked into a minimum wage retail job!

playedalive

Jingle_Balls wrote: »

When I finished college, I walked into a minimum wage retail job!

This was me as a part timer twice after graduating college last year. Interesting times...

looksee

And as far as I can tell, if you do a minimum wage retail job you are employed and therefore not eligible to do jobbridge which might give you a bit of a step up into your career. The only way to get onto jobbridge is to be unemployed for 6 months, which really goes against the grain for a lot of people.