Do you think Work experience should be an important module to do in irish schools and

Vlove

In my opinion, I am against it because it doesn't give you the experience of what it's like to gain payment in a job or after you complete the placement, you don't get a job at the end of it.

I would love if every young person including myself, gets the chance of gaining employment easily and not be worrying of soul searching for businesses who wont take you on. Or even, worrying about getting a degree 4 years later to see if a job pops up in which it mightn't! Trust me, I've known a few people who have completed their degrees and they couldn't find jobs after that graduated.

The government should really think of ways for young people to get into employment while they are studying or even, try to promote jobs more. They think the recession is ending but I don't believe that.

What are your guys opinion?

Steve

I think young people have an unrealistic expectation that society owes them a job and that it's someone else's problem when they don't get one.

Diemos

Steve wrote: »

I think young people have an unrealistic expectation that society owes them a job and that it's someone else's problem when they don't get one.

I think that's unfair, I think they are naive more than entitled.
Certainly in my case, the story hammered into us was, go to 3rd level get a great job, don't go to 3rd level and you'll end up stacking shelves in Centra.

But there are loads of 3rd level courses out there with rubbish prospects. And loads of great jobs that don't require a 3rd level education.

As to the OP's question, in an ideal world, yes, that would be great but as jobs bridge should it would just be taken advantage of and the students would become nothing more the unpaid/underpaid lackeys.

Lauras5839

Well work experience modules are a part of LCA and TY programs and I think it's a wonderful opportunity for the students to get a taste of what is required in an actual work environment and that they won't get as catered to or babied as they do in school in regards to their work and what's expected of them.

It's not about getting paid and it's not about walking into a job at the end of it, it's a taste of what it's like and lets them experience different types of jobs.

I think as a module it's fine where it is and doesn't need to be brought into the traditional LC or JC cycles.

Edit: If you're on about third level then I'd say the same, it's more about the experience of it to see if you'd actually like whatever field it is in practice rather than theory.

Dardania

I found it a valuable experience when I was in Transition Year aged 16. Gave me a better expectation of what the working world was like.

Interestingly, I ended up in the industry that one of my work epxerience weeks was dedicated to.

OP: your view seems conflicted. You seem to think that the government should do something to get people jobs, but arranging work experience as we currently have it is bad, as the student doesn't get paid for it? To be fair, a kid for 1 or 2 weeks in a job is not going to do substantive work worth paying for...
Also, many college courses do have placement as part of them

RE your point about 4 years of college and no jobs at the end, that is a problem that the government can address - pull funding for those college course that there isn't an employment market for.
Students also have to take responsibility for their choice of college course - the world doesn't owe them a living as one of the other posters notes too.

newacc2015

Steve wrote: »

I think young people have an unrealistic expectation that society owes them a job and that it's someone else's problem when they don't get one.

Nah, that is just Irish society in general. No matter how old or wealthy you are, you believe you are entitled to as much as possible off the state contributing as little as possible. Stick on Joe Duffy and you will hear 85 years being they are entitled to more off the state

What I got from work experience that going to college was an option for me, I just had to go. I didnt want to work a soul destroying retail job after working in a supermarket for a week. But I can honestly say 95% of my friends go nothing from work experience

If you go to any top Irish University you will see how hunger twenty somethings are to work for a top firm. You will see 18 years old networking knowing it could be important for a job future in life. Ireland should be a country where if you are hunger enough and hard working enough, society should reward you with a job. That isnt entitlement, it is how a 21st century capitalist country should be. If you are 25 and working in McDonalds after graduating top of your class and have a masters in Law from Trinity or UCD. If you are working in McDonalds that is a massive failure within the economy

Musicman2000

newacc2015 wrote: »

Nah, that is just Irish society in general. No matter how old or wealthy you are, you believe you are entitled to as much as possible off the state contributing as little as possible. Stick on Joe Duffy and you will hear 85 years being they are entitled to more off the state

What I got from work experience that going to college was an option for me, I just had to go. I didnt want to work a soul destroying retail job after working in a supermarket for a week. But I can honestly say 95% of my friends go nothing from work experience

If you go to any top Irish University you will see how hunger twenty somethings are to work for a top firm. You will see 18 years old networking knowing it could be important for a job future in life. Ireland should be a country where if you are hunger enough and hard working enough, society should reward you with a job. That isnt entitlement, it is how a 21st century capitalist country should be. If you are 25 and working in McDonalds after graduating top of your class and have a masters in Law from Trinity or UCD. If you are working in McDonalds that is a massive failure within the economy

Hmmmm a lot of people work in retail and are on good money so i wouldn't be looking down on them and calling it soul destroying. Going to a top University means nothing in my opinion . Ive been to a top university , completed numerous industry certs and found it very hard to get work in my area outside of Dublin . Reason why? Not enough work experience . Answer to this? Role out more apprenticeships in areas such as Law,IT, and Accounting.

Forget about that top University rubbish, which a lot of their degrees are a complete waste of time . People need more hands on experience in their chosen industry . So your getting 4 years experience and a degree which in my option is a fantastic option.

spurious

Whatever about work experience, there should be a minimum period (a month maybe) work in the community for everyone who is getting a grant, or social welfare, or any other government handout.

Cleaning graffiti, picking litter, cleaning dog poo, whatever. Cleaning your area for a bit will make you less likely to fling the Maccers wrappers on the ground, scrawl your name, however artisitic, or let Flopsy gik all over the place.

Nothing for nothing.

Dardania

spurious wrote: »

Whatever about work experience, there should be a minimum period (a month maybe) work in the community for everyone who is getting a grant, or social welfare, or any other government handout.

Cleaning graffiti, picking litter, cleaning dog poo, whatever. Cleaning your area for a bit will make you less likely to fling the Maccers wrappers on the ground, scrawl your name, however artisitic, or let Flopsy gik all over the place.

Nothing for nothing.

A lot of those schemes, be try education or back to work schemes, are all about moving people to be proper tax payers. So it is quite equitable. I'd hate for people to be in full time education, and simultaneously picking up litter to think then they don't have a duty to pay tax

gerogerigegege

summers or a year abroad. kids need a second language these days.

2RockMountain

spurious wrote: »

Whatever about work experience, there should be a minimum period (a month maybe) work in the community for everyone who is getting a grant, or social welfare, or any other government handout.

Cleaning graffiti, picking litter, cleaning dog poo, whatever. Cleaning your area for a bit will make you less likely to fling the Maccers wrappers on the ground, scrawl your name, however artisitic, or let Flopsy gik all over the place.

Nothing for nothing.

The same would apply to all those who get child benefit, or who benefit from ECCE childcare, or teachers paid by the state, or nurses paid by the state, or who work for multi-nationals who pay 0.00005% tax, right?

Nothing for nothing (or 0.000005% of something).

54and56

My experience is that a big part of the TY "work experience" requirement is to challenge students to go knocking on doors asking for a job (which generates some real world experience dealing with rejection etc) and once they get someone to give them an opportunity they get to sample what real work is like versus the preconceived ideas they may have had.

IMO this is invaluable for the student in terms of validating or challenging their choice of career path and subjects for the LC etc.

alta stare

My young lad is doing TY and he has to do some work placement. He wasnt to keen on looking for work he wanted us to see if we could get him something. I was going to help him out but i didn't bother as i told him it would be a good experience for him to try and find it himself. Im glad to say he got something and starts tomorrow he is delighted as are we and we are even more happier he done it off his own back. So yes work placement and the likes should be part of school. It gives kids an idea of what to do where to go and what may suit them. Plus it will give them a taste of rejection which can be good when job searching.

54and56

alta stare wrote: »

My young lad is doing TY and he has to do some work placement. He wasnt to keen on looking for work he wanted us to see if we could get him something. I was going to help him out but i didn't bother as i told him it would be a good experience for him to try and find it himself. Im glad to say he got something and starts tomorrow he is delighted as are we and we are even more happier he done it off his own back. So yes work placement and the likes should be part of school. It gives kids an idea of what to do where to go and what may suit them. Plus it will give them a taste of rejection which can be good when job searching.

^^ This 100%

Vlove

alta stare wrote: »

My young lad is doing TY and he has to do some work placement. He wasnt to keen on looking for work he wanted us to see if we could get him something. I was going to help him out but i didn't bother as i told him it would be a good experience for him to try and find it himself. Im glad to say he got something and starts tomorrow he is delighted as are we and we are even more happier he done it off his own back. So yes work placement and the likes should be part of school. It gives kids an idea of what to do where to go and what may suit them. Plus it will give them a taste of rejection which can be good when job searching.

Good on him for getting something but again, its not going to be paid and in future, he will be kept searching for more placements that won't be offering him a proper job. I mean, I know it was ages ago but back then, you got a paid job straight away and you wouldn't be needing to look for other jobs. Or even better, you had your own business. I think our grandparents or our parents agree that their generation was better off than ours with regards to finding work. No wonder fecking charity shops are taking over most towns, they are everywhere and by god, young people shouldnt have to be volunteering with ol ones who have big pensions. Not that Im against old people but you know, it would be best for the young person to experience the real world in another way.

54and56

Vlove wrote: »

Good on him for getting something but again, its not going to be paid

I don't think you get the purpose of work "experience" for 15 year olds. From a businesses perspective they are a bit of a pain in the ar$e to have around the place for a week or two as you have to give them a bit of training and supervise them closely. They generally do f£ck all real work ie something of actual value to the business and you have potential health and safety issues etc with them (I know a butchers who's insurance policy increased as a result of a TY lad chopping off the tip of a finger!!).

Most businesses don't want them anywhere near the place as they are a distraction and just not worth the hassle (hence the high number of "Thanks but no thanks" responses) but those who do extend an invitation are to be praised for giving our kids a taste of what a real work environment is like. To expect them to have to pay for babysitting 15 year olds for a couple of weeks is a bit much hence it's specifically stated by the schools that the students are not to be paid.

Vlove wrote: »

and in future, he will be kept searching for more placements that won't be offering him a proper job.

Why should they be offering him a proper job? They are opening their doors to give him a bit of experience. That's all. End of. It's not supposed to be an audition for a proper job. I really don't think you get the concept at all.

Vlove wrote: »

I mean, I know it was ages ago but back then, you got a paid job straight away and you wouldn't be needing to look for other jobs. Or even better, you had your own business. I think our grandparents or our parents agree that their generation was better off than ours with regards to finding work. No wonder fecking charity shops are taking over most towns, they are everywhere and by god, young people shouldnt have to be volunteering with ol ones who have big pensions. Not that Im against old people but you know, it would be best for the young person to experience the real world in another way.

The ship of "one job for life" has sailed a long time ago. TY kids today have to deal in today's reality, not yesterdays nostalgia.

Mrs OBumble

Vlove wrote: »

I think our grandparents or our parents agree that their generation was better off than ours with regards to finding work.

In a word, bollox.

There were recessions and thus big migrations from Ireland in the 1930s, 1950s and 1980s. Your parents generation was the first in which technology made it possible for lots of people to work for overseas companies from the comfort of their own homes - or at least from offices within daily commuting distance of their home town. This wasn't true for your grandparents.

Work-experience is just that: a chance to experience what a workplace is like, without actually getting a job. It's valuable, because it can show you places that you wouldn't otherwise know about or be able to get a job in.

Jobbridge and the like are not work-experience. They are internships. I certainly believe they should be paid, because when you have one of them you are doing real work, usually at a slower pace than experienced employees. Unfortunately the government doesn't agree with me (yet) - but as the economy improves (after Brexit hiccups and the like) unpaid ones will become less common.

spurious

Vlove wrote: »

young people shouldnt have to be volunteering with ol ones who have big pensions

I don't get your point here. I mean all through life they will meet people better or worse off than they are. Volunteering is an excellent activity, for anyone, of any means.

I used to be in charge of classes that did Work Experience. The really useless placements (in terms of mirroring anything remotely real world) were where they went into a parent or neighbour's workplace and were treated like crystal.