The f**king Jobbridge!

neaideabh · 13-10-2013 03:42AM #1

Never was a fan of the initiative but still said I'd do it as it will get me experience and make me more employable!

I did a nine month internship last yr and nothing came out of it! Kept doing interviews with good feedback and getting the odd second round interview but could just not get the job!

Saw another internship and said I'd go for it as it was in an area (Med devices/Pharma/Regulated industry) that I want to get experience in. I have just completed my second month there! Because I have already completed a nine month internship I was ineligible to do another one through the jobbridge scheme but I asked them to still take me on if they can and through the FAS WPP they took me on!

I have being doing interviews in the meantime and last week I did an interview and they said they liked me and invited me for a second interview!

They offered me the role at the end and after all the **** I have been through over the last 2 or 3 yrs, I was over the moon!

I had no high expectations of the salary as after 3 yrs on the "rocker", I was happy with the prospect of taking home a wage again!

So I was expecting around €22k- €24k which would be the starting salary for a similar position for a graduate, never mind someone with experience of 4 years (which they were looking for)

Then they dropped the bomb and told me what they were offering....

€19,000.... MINIMUM WAGE!

I just thought to myself.... "would ya **** off!"

I told them that is way short of what I was expecting....
Told them that my first role after college that I was on €24,000 which went up to €26k after a year and in my last role I was on €31,000

I asked them would they budge on that figure and if it was negotiable, they Just said €20,000... MAX!

Then they just went onto say that they are basically doing me a favour and that they could go through jobbridge and get someone for free!

I was a small bit nervous at the interview and the HR girl gave me feedback saying that I did a brilliant interview and that they were gonna ask me back but that I should try and come across more confident. She said she understood that the knocks I had in the last few years being out of work may have hit my confidence a bit!

So, I can only assume that they think I am desperate and happy to go with someone with experience but be able to think they can make a €5000 cost saving by goin with me coz I'm on my second internship!

Seriously, I've never had my conscience tested as much before....

Anyone have any... advice?

Anyways..... this scenario is because of the existence of the jobbridge scheme and now the government is looking to extend jobseekers "privilages" from the entitlement of 2 internships to 3 internships!

I don't know what to say but... just don't vote Fine Gael again unless they promise to get rid of this scheme!

Obviously, other people will have a strong opinion on other matters of government duty other than employment issues but this is my anti-government issue and it affects alot of other people!

dobman88 · 13-10-2013 03:45AM

So you're complaining about getting a full time job on minimum wage? You wan the job on your wage terms? GTFO. That's not the way it works in the real world. You should be delighted to be getting a weekly wage after being unemployed for so long.

Easier to find a job when you're in a job. Get over yourself ffs

TheBoffin · 13-10-2013 03:48AM

All Job Bridge does is cheapens the workforce. Granted some companies use it responsibly however for the most-part it just cheapens work force costs, massages the live register figures, and still leaves the person in a similar situation to where they started.

Mint Aero · 13-10-2013 03:48AM

This has nothing to do with FG. I can't remember, it was lisbon or nice treaty or whatever. We were told vote Yes and wages will be reduced to about 1.85 an hour. We voted yes second time round. Jobsbridge set up, 50 squids for a working week, there ya go boss.

Leave the country, they pay real wages abroad.

Too Tough To Die · 13-10-2013 03:51AM

Get out of that country.

Esel · 13-10-2013 03:53AM

It might be pissing you off, but $20K p.a. is more than twice as good as JSA. As dobman88 said, it is easier to get a (better) job when you are in a job. You say you were expecting €22K to €24K. €20K is not a lot below €22K..... If I was in your situation I would think long and hard before turning it down.

neaideabh · 13-10-2013 04:05AM

Esel wrote: »

It might be pissing you off, but $20K p.a. is more than twice as good as JSA. As dobman88 said, it is easier to get a (better) job when you are in a job. You say you were expecting €22K to €24K. €20K is not a lot below €22K..... If I was in your situation I would think long and hard before turning it down.

I appreciate that but I google the salary ranges for a similar position and there is a research data that states the range for someone working in the same type of job outside Dublin is min €33,000 to max €45,000.

Yes, I am in a position to get ripped off but they are ripping off by €13,000!

And I have to let them!

Esel · 13-10-2013 04:07AM

neaideabh wrote: »

I appreciate that but I google the salary ranges for a similar position and there is a research data that states the range for someone working in the same type of job outside Dublin is min €33,000 to max €45,000.

Yes, I am in a position to get ripped off but they are ripping off by €13,000!

And I have to let them!

These figures are way different to those in your OP.

neaideabh · 13-10-2013 04:33AM

Esel wrote: »

These figures are way different to those in your OP.

I said at the start that I expected and would be happy with €24,000, even though the min avg salary was €33,000!

They offered at €19,000!

Esel · 13-10-2013 04:36AM

neaideabh wrote: »

I said at the start that I expected and would be happy with €24,000, even though the min avg salary was €33,000!

They offered at €19,000!

If you said that at the interview, then I can understand your anger.

In your OP though, you said

So I was expecting around €22k- €24k which would be the starting salary for a similar position for a graduate, never mind someone with experience of 4 years (which they were looking for)

RiseToMe · 13-10-2013 05:08AM

All due respect OP, salarys have come down. Big time.

I work in an area where graduates were starting on 45k just four years ago. Do you know what they get now? Starting salary of 24k.

Yes 24k is still higher than your 19k. But you've been unemployed from the area for a few years, you are not a recent graduate. you were what they were actually looking for (they wanted four years experience) but how long ago was this experience and it is a industry that chamhes rapidly?
How longago did you graduate in the area?

To be honest not taking this job would be the biggest mistake you take and it pissed me off that people complain so much about being on the dole but are too greedy to take a job that gives them twice the income.

You want to work or you don't.

Everybody starts somewhere, you are being handed an opportunity at a job you want and you want to turn it down after years unemployed because the money isnt what you expected. This is exactly what's wrong with society.

whatdoicare · 13-10-2013 07:51AM

I think people are missing what the OP is saying:
The potential employers had jobbridge to use as a threat to make him take less money, as in, you're lucky were even giving you this as we could've just gone to jobbridge. Whereas before you could do a bit of haggling for your salary if you knew they liked you. You can't anymore, no matter how successful a business is, you have to take what you're offered and be happy.

I agree, it is pretty ****e.

D1stant · 13-10-2013 08:12AM

I would say suck it up

They are offering you 20k. You were expecting 22-24k. How much less after tax per week is that? Not much I'd guess. And yes they are taking the p1ss a bit, but you need to grab this and run with it. If they are a 'good' company then in 2 years time you'll have made up the difference

Its a p1sser. I know but there's not much choice right?

SeaFields · 13-10-2013 08:39AM

Just with the reference to Fine Geal, this scheme has become Joan Burtons little baby. She defends it to the hilt. How a Labour minister can not only defend a free labour scheme but also recently double its duration, makes my head hurt. But it keeps her live register figures down.

Skill Magill · 13-10-2013 08:55AM

Try and look at it as another step taken getting you closer to the job and payscheme you want. When you took on a jobbridge role, no doubt you were looking at the bigger picture, no job > do this bull for 50 extra > get a start in a job.
That is all this is, its a start. Take it, then see how you go

Almaviva · 13-10-2013 09:08AM

TheBoffin wrote: »

All Job Bridge does is cheapens the workforce.

Cheapening the workforce is a good thing. Downward pressure on wages is still needed to restore competitveness and get people back to work after the excessive and unmerited wage inflation of the worst of the boom years.

No Pants · 13-10-2013 09:14AM

Take the job and get back into the workforce. Keep your CV updated and keep an eye out for opportunities. I spent 14 months on the dole between 2009 and 2010. The difference in recruiting attitudes when I had a job was noticeable.

On a side note, I can't believe they used Job Bridge as a bargaining tool. That's unprofessional and it's already damaged the psychological contract you have with the company before you've even started. Incredibly stupid.

Annasopra · 13-10-2013 09:16AM

Take the job and keep looking for another one

Cee-Jay-Cee · 13-10-2013 09:26AM

I earn €43k in the PS. I actually take home about 48% of it due to tax prsi levys USC etc. With your €20k you'll be taking home slightly less than me as you'll be paying miminum tax and USC. It's a start and you will have the potential to move up the pay grade.

namloc1980 · 13-10-2013 09:29AM

Almaviva wrote: »

Cheapening the workforce is a good thing. Downward pressure on wages is still needed to restore competitveness and get people back to work after the excessive and unmerited wage inflation of the worst of the boom years.

That's great and all but we are still seeing costs in this country escalate. Energy costs are going up up up. New taxes, plus water charges on the way, 23% VAT etc. Your comment sounds just like some Government/IBEC propaganda sound bite.

hawkelady · 13-10-2013 09:30AM

Almaviva wrote: »

Cheapening the workforce is a good thing. Downward pressure on wages is still needed to restore competitveness and get people back to work after the excessive and unmerited wage inflation of the worst of the boom years.

So you think getting paid €50 per week extra is a "good thing"??
Btw the employer doesn't pay , the government pays for the free labour.
You truely believe this is the way to manage the country?

Are you moan burton. ??

Hannibal Smith · 13-10-2013 09:30AM

I am so sick of that job bridge scheme...so many times I've seen a job I'd be interested in only to read further and see its on the job bridge scheme. Not only that but employers are looking to take people on for the role, under the guise of it being a job bridge internship. ..but they're really looking for a full time fully qualified person on the cheap.

And you're right op it has cheapened the whole workforce. Its a useless system and I hope they do away with it

sydthebeat · 13-10-2013 09:33AM

What's the length of the contract

Almaviva · 13-10-2013 09:40AM

namloc1980 wrote: »

That's great and all but we are still seeing costs in this country escalate. Energy costs are going up up up. New taxes, plus water charges on the way, 23% VAT etc. Your comment sounds just like some Government/IBEC propaganda sound bite.

Escalating costs mean you must cut back what you spend. Not be paid more so that you can keep affording the same expenditure. Justifying wages because of increasing costs leads to no net reduction. Just further spiralling wages, making the economy uncompetitive, more people out of work, higher taxes to fund more social welfare, etc. And the country never recovers. Not what anyone wants.

sydthebeat · 13-10-2013 09:44AM

Almaviva wrote: »

Escalating costs mean you must cut back what you spend. Not be paid more so that you can keep affording the same expenditure. Justifying wages because of increasing costs leads to no net reduction. Just further spiralling wages, making the economy uncompetitive, more people out of work, higher taxes to fund more social welfare, etc. And the country never recovers. Not what anyone wants.

The problem with that opinion is that it doesn't take into account the personal and asset debt taken on board during the boom which still has to be serviced, only now in light of falling wages and increasing costs.

The vast majority of people have already cut their costs to the bone. If someone is on jsa and slave bridge you can be sure there is no luxuries in their lives

yankinlk · 13-10-2013 09:49AM

Take the job and start looking. Use the hr feedback and any and all tools the company offers to improve and up skill. Bleed them for all its worth and in the next year or two jump ship for more cash.

The fact is yer colleagues have prolly not seen a raise in 5 years, and some may have lost money.

I think jb is ok. The ones i have seen badly and i mean badly need the help and would not be suitable as normally employed full time people for the same role. They do not have the skills or the confidence or the experience and are still given a chance.

In my opinion when we come out of the recession/depression we will be hiring for totally different types of jobs then when we last left the celtic tiger. Simply put our workforce needs to change pretty quickly or any possible growth is gonna stall big time. Or we or going to need only graduates or foreign workers to fill the gap.

Rubberchikken · 13-10-2013 09:51AM

definitely jobsbridge is a con, and watching ends kenny on the news last night from his party @rink in going on about how the figures on the live register are falling and how great fine gael are, ugh, made my stomach turn.
but you op are being offered a job. salary might be crap iyo, but salaries have come way down.
once in the job, you get experience, more money than on dole, and it's easier to loook for another job when employed.
good luck with it.

Hannibal Smith · 13-10-2013 09:53AM

Almaviva wrote: »

Escalating costs mean you must cut back what you spend. Not be paid more so that you can keep affording the same expenditure. Justifying wages because of increasing costs leads to no net reduction. Just further spiralling wages, making the economy uncompetitive, more people out of work, higher taxes to fund more social welfare, etc. And the country never recovers. Not what anyone wants.

Ah come on! How much more can we reduce our bills by? People deserve a wage which reflects their skills and not pennies because a government scheme can do it cheaper

yankinlk · 13-10-2013 09:54AM

Yeah the jb is so awful the op got a job out of it.

hfallada · 13-10-2013 09:59AM

Long term unemployment is the biggest obstacle to getting a new job. The nytimes got two identical cvs. But with the same college degrees and experience. Except one was out of work a month and the other 2 years.

The first phoney cv got a lot of interview calls. But the long term unemployed person got hardly any. OP take the job for now and keep looking for a decent one. Long term unemployment is a career killer

namloc1980 · 13-10-2013 10:01AM

yankinlk wrote: »

Yeah the jb is so awful the op got a job out of it.

The company threatened to use job bridge if he didn't take the minimum wage. That's low in anyone's language.

The f**king Jobbridge!

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