Job Bridge joke

ABajaninCork

Quite a lot of multi-nationals are also exploiting the scheme to get JB people in for free, where they would normally have to pay contractors...

donegal11

MochaChillo wrote: »

Job bridge is the biggest joke ever!! is a scheme for employers to take advantage of it and then after the nine months, you wont be kept on!! complete waste of time!!

I been participating it for a month now in an accountancy firm !! there isnt even a proper mouse for me to do my daily tasks. The employer knows about it but yet he is not willing to buy a new mouse for me to use so i had to bring in my own one!!!

he also asked me clean the kitchen sink as well as the toilet sink..... ...im here to learn about accountancy book keeping etc not here to learn how to clean!! I am sure if there is a vaccum cleaner here he will ask me to hoover!! :mad:

I was asked to make my hours up because I took a few days off for going to several interviews!! but I still have another 8 months to go!! He was kinda hinting saying that I shouldnt take anymore days off now until I have my hours made up!! Now I have to work an hour extra everyday to make up the extra day off that I took last month!! Employers are scared that they are being taken advantage of but i think they are the people who is taking advantage of this scheme!!

Going for an interview is perfectly acceptable and shouldn't counts as sick days either. So what hours would you have make up? He's paying you nothing and Social Welfare don't care if you miss days for interview and they certainty don't expect you to work extra because of it.And of course he doesn't want you to miss days for interviews because he would lose his slave(bet your working the 40ish hour contract). But as far as cleaning the sink it might of only took you 5 minutes out of your day and it's not really the end of the world.

Go to Social Welfare about him making you work extra hours because of going for interviews and get writen confirmation that it's not acceptable

clau22

I understand exactly what you're going through and totally sympathise with you.
My so called job is 'Office Administrator' I finish in mid Nov thank god!Like you I hoover, empty the bins, make her tea, even do personal errands for her! She's on holiday this week and also last week and no work assigned to me!
It's an absolute disgrace and if I leave in the morning Social Welfare may reduce my payments yet if I'm not offered a job, the host organisation doesn't have to give a reason to the Social!!!

Cheerful Spring

fly_agaric wrote: »

Unsure if I agree but here are 2 questions that occur:
Where would the jobsbridger get the money for a challenge like that?
What "quango" here would dare bite the hand that feeds and support such a challenge in the current environment? [edit: the public sector & quangos etc could well be papering over cracks with jobsbridge also as they cannot hire...]

imo Jobsbidge is going to be hard to get rid of; compliant & dirt cheap labour is a powerful habit to break for businesses and ibec, isme etc will scream blue murder about the sky falling if the govt. try to end it (some extreme examples of how economies can come to depend on cheap labour: the old south in the US, the Belgian Congo etc, a hard thing to do without once you get used to it)

JobBridge, isn't forced labor i don't think? The Social welfare doesn't force someone to take a job do they?

Slave Labour category this would fall under.
40 hours a week, for very little pay. I'm fairly certain they are been exploited.

TUS programme.

If you refuse a job from them or refuse to attend a TUS interview, your dole payments will be halted or stopped by the Department of social protection.

Article V of the 'EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000)

Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
1. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Article 15: Freedom to choose an occupation and right to engage in work.

TUS is compulsory you have no choice.. But its illegal under EU law to force someone to take a job they don't want to do..

Forcing you to work for your dole is wrong. Article 15: Freedom to choose an occupation

Esse85

Cleaning toilets and sinks while your assigned to an accounting internship.

FFS what age are you to accept being taken for a fool. Your in the real world, grow up and stop letting people take advantage of you.

MochaChillo

A bit of good news !!!!

All interns are allowed to take time off for interviews and they won't be deducted from the holidays your are entitled to so if your boss is an ass wouldn't allow u to attend interviews because you haven't worked ur hours up then u should tell him u don't have to work ur hours up to get days off for interview! If he has a problem or is looking for evidence submit an enquiry form and they are really good in replying and helping you :-)

http://www.jobbridge.ie/ContactUs.aspx

MochaChillo

Esse85 wrote: »

Cleaning toilets and sinks while your assigned to an accounting internship.

FFS what age are you to accept being taken for a fool. Your in the real world, grow up and stop letting people take advantage of you.

I know we are in the real world that's why I did them because at the end of the day u are hoping he will take u on after the nines months or if that doesn't happen u are hoping he will give u a good reference ! So .........I know there's no such thing as a bad reference but there's always a way to make u sound u are not a good worker etc!

MochaChillo

donegal11 wrote: »

Going for an interview is perfectly acceptable and shouldn't counts as sick days either. So what hours would you have make up? He's paying you nothing and Social Welfare don't care if you miss days for interview and they certainty don't expect you to work extra because of it.And of course he doesn't want you to miss days for interviews because he would lose his slave(bet your working the 40ish hour contract). But as far as cleaning the sink it might of only took you 5 minutes out of your day and it's not really the end of the world.

Go to Social Welfare about him making you work extra hours because of going for interviews and get writen confirmation that it's not acceptable

I know cleaning the sink is not hard work but it just the way he doesn't how appreciation and he always takes his words back!

On monday , i handed in my notice and told him i would like to finish up thr internship the end of this week and asked him politely is it possible fof me to leave a day early this week for important personal matters and because he thinks I owe him hours so he didn't approve and we had a little negotiation and then it came to I had to work an extra hour every day this week so I could have Friday off! I thought that was fair if I genuinely do owe him hours!

On Tuesday he came into work and then said to me , Friday doesn't suit me , ( his reason being be needs someone go ve in the office answering phone calls )
Sorry can't have ur day off on Friday , is either tomoro or nothing ! I explained to him that I made appointments for Friday already so I had to go on Friday and he just turned his words around and said he didn't promise me that I could have a day off on Friday so i shudmt have made appointments for friday ! and it all ended into an argument! Then He was pretty much forcing me into ringing the people I have appointments with on Friday to change them to Wednesday! I said I'm not going to do that and eventually he then said ok 'half day' on friday if u work through lunch so u can finish at 2 O clock while usually on Fridays I finish at 3
( so technically is not a half day as well as that I'm working a full day on Friday and having to work an extra hour everyday this week) what sense does this make???

Thank god I emailed job bridge and they emailed me bak telling me that I don't have to work my hours back cos I'm entitled to day of work for interviews or for going to social welfare! ! Is an internship not an employment!!!

So i forward the email onto him and and told him that I don't owe u any hours and im entitled to my 1.75 days off still so I'm finishing up today !!

MochaChillo

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Then I would do the following:

REFUSE to clean the kitchen and bogs. ( I trust you did)

AND report this p1ss-taking scumbag!!! He is NOT allowed to dock hours because you went to a job interview. If he doesn't know that, then Welfare should make him aware quick smart...

Who could we go to to make complaints?? I am just afraid at the end of the day they will be more inclined to employers because they are hoping employers will take interns on after the nine months so they probably won't do anything about it??

MochaChillo

clau22 wrote: »

I understand exactly what you're going through and totally sympathise with you.
My so called job is 'Office Administrator' I finish in mid Nov thank god!Like you I hoover, empty the bins, make her tea, even do personal errands for her! She's on holiday this week and also last week and no work assigned to me!
It's an absolute disgrace and if I leave in the morning Social Welfare may reduce my payments yet if I'm not offered a job, the host organisation doesn't have to give a reason to the Social!!!

I know what u mean that u wouldn't want ur payments to be deducted hence ur staying there?? Maybe u should apply for somewhere else ( not internship now) while working there and if u do get an offer at least u can leave the place and having nothing to worry about !

Can u not explain it to social welfare that the job u were asked to do , were not the jobs listed in the job description? I say if u leave ur job the most social welfare will deduct would be the extra €50 .... Nothing else will be deducted !

d9oiu2wk07blr5

MochaChillo wrote: »

I know we are in the real world that's why I did them because at the end of the day u are hoping he will take u on after the nines months or if that doesn't happen u are hoping he will give u a good reference ! So .........I know there's no such thing as a bad reference but there's always a way to make u sound u are not a good worker etc!

It's unlikely that he's going to take him/her on and reference or not, why would want to work for an employer who showed you such a lack of respect?

uck51js9zml2yt

we have 2ex jobbridge on staff equating to 25% of the team. both jobs never existed before and we made the positions into jobs ourselves.

neither of us waited to be assigned work or made tea for the boss.

granted there are some scams but you can't tar every firm with the same brush.

it worked for us both to give us experience after college and we made it a job.

MochaChillo

Maryam Tall Extinguisher wrote: »

It's unlikely that he's going to take you on and reference or not, why would want to work for an employer who showed you such a lack of respect?

Very true and apparently he asked all the interns he had to do all the cleaning too !

He gets free labour to do his accounting chores as well as the cleaning chores so he doesn't even have to hire a cleaning lady ! Is ridiculous!!

But anyway I handed in my notice to finish up this week so I'm happy out :-)

MochaChillo

Noel Shaggy Ladle wrote: »

we have 2ex jobbridge on staff equating to 25% of the team. both jobs never existed before and we made the positions into jobs ourselves.

neither of us waited to be assigned work or made tea for the boss.

granted there are some scams but you can't tar every firm with the same brush.

it worked for us both to give us experience after college and we made it a job.

I know shouldn't target at all company but just happens that all the stories I hear about job bridge internship and including the one I participated were not positive stories!

That's why it makes most people think that the internship won't be a good thing and plus after u made it into a job I say the company has enough staff now so they won't be participating the internship scheme till when they need staff so which mean another good company to do the internship is off the market! Just leaving all the bad ones because they tend not to keep on interns so they could continue and have free labour!

uck51js9zml2yt

MochaChillo wrote: »

I know shouldn't target at all company but just happens that all the stories I hear about job bridge internship and including the one I participated were not positive stories!

That's why it makes most people think that the internship won't be a good thing and plus after u made it into a job I say the company has enough staff now so they won't be participating the internship scheme till when they need staff so which mean another good company to do the internship is off the market! Just leaving all the bad ones because they tend not to keep on interns so they could continue and have free labour!

we actually have another intern with us at the moment.

MochaChillo

Noel Shaggy Ladle wrote: »

we actually have another intern with us at the moment.

Really? fair play to the company for keeping interns on as well as hiring!! Not many companies will do that ! :-)

Do you not think perhaps that maybe people need to look carefully at the internship that is being offered investigate it a lot before applying maybe ask an older more experienced person what do they think, also use common sense, if you are only looking for experience and a good reference that's one thing, but if you want it to turn in to a job that something else.

People seem to be a little naive and don't seem to realise that for example a clerical internship in a small solicitors office in a small town is most unlikely to turn in to a job as the legal profession is struggling now that convincing has dropped so dramatically. If your aim is to get a job then maybe you need to be very careful about the internship you take.

MochaChillo

i completely agree with u, we should do more research etc. but during the interview i did ask him alot of questions and he did tell me things like there will be excellent training, and listed out the things i might be ask to do. but yet after u started everything is different. you dont get proper training just being thrown in the deep end. Yes i was asked to do all the things he mentioned in the interview as well as things that were not said in the interview nor the job description.

Rainbow_Bright

Looking through job sites and come across one company which is seeking 4 interns - is this allowed or are they taking the ****?! I'm aware that a company can hire something like 10% of its workforce in interns but this kind of thing bugs me.

Sorry, rant over!!

Here's the link: http://ie.indeed.com/jobs?q=ratoath+college&l=meath&sort=date

Hennesm

Proper fed up. Started an internship on 4th July . The place I am working at told me they had cleared it all and sorted out all the forms etc. I questioned it last week and it turns out they hadn't. I have sent the form off now and been told that my official start date is next Monday , even though I have been working the previous 3 weeks. When I asked what to do about this I was told it was tough and. A 'life experience' sand there was no way if back dating the start date even though the host would verify it for me...
Not only that I'm supposed to be doing accounts but appear to be doing the owners household accounts, together with personal appointments and general reception duties ...am feeling beyond fed up . €50 a week may not sound a lot to them but would make a big difference to me..

clau22

It is amazing that that many interns are being hired in the one school?? Surely at least one would lead to a full time job?!
It would be great if they could all lead to full time positions!

clau22

@Hennesm sorry to hear about your internship, it truly is awful to be treated in that manner. I feel your pain and know exactly what you're going through.
It's so unfair how no one cares that you started your internship weeks before it was made official!

Sin City

Looking for teachers on jobsbridge these days

A JOBBRIDGE AD for a full-time teaching post has been described as “exploitative”, with one teachers’ union saying it directs its members not to take part in the internship scheme.
The ad is for a nine-month-long primary school teacher post at a school in Athlone. It says the intern – who would be paid €50 a week under the JobBridge national internship scheme – will “gain practical experience in teaching”.

http://www.thejournal.ie/jobbridge-teacher-job-athlone-1011094-Jul2013/?utm_source=facebook_short

aodhan2

http://www.jobs.ie/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=1281790

with all the tradesmen on the dole this is a disgrace . look at the skills you need, they need electrical plumbing and carpentry. three trades there , there is no need to hire an intern for this type of work which in most places can only be handled by a competent person . absolute disgrace IMO

ABajaninCork

That's not an official JB internship, and should be reported. All JB roles have to go through the National Internship scheme as there is certain criteria that needs to be fulfilled. In fact, I've just done so! :pac:

It's not the first time a hotel (take a bow M*****n!) tried to get people on JB through the back door...

EDIT: I've just noticed on the ad, that this particular hotel is part of the same chain. Why am I not surprised?

aodhan2

ABajaninCork wrote: »

That's not an official JB internship, and should be reported. All JB roles have to go through the National Internship scheme as there is certain criteria that needs to be fulfilled. In fact, I've just done so! :pac:

It's not the first time a hotel (take a bow M*****n!) tried to get people on JB through the back door...

EDIT: I've just noticed on the ad, that this particular hotel is part of the same chain. Why am I not surprised?

i reported it myself , i would love to ring the hotel and lift them out of it , im full sure i saw a hotel advertise four positions similar to this lately . this hotel could easily take someone off the dole pay them a fair wage even if its a contract .

NickD

Sorry if it has already been mentioned but at the Jobbridge website is advertising a position as a Personal Injury Solicitor I **** you not.

Proof:

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=B+fomdowzS8kaDnSlUDk1yW26DjUJdnNZmJvk4EsxDKnmmsSN00TwcqeveQVxJbJsa5tQV3vPHNSTqC5HTcuJvsAAngFYrs/oLiTJYbd0nyBcqmOV4Ipw8Srf3Sm6IyJIx4PMzx/dfGdClV3a/7+dIltyFkcPRj07axOw6XCiC4HIoDfxR92KX76ajk1WqR8GeEXn05+Ujr3LB6XjlS6F4IaEQ3WJbC3HpDJqdH6zAE9sspXvo6Idum5BdcI4+o+7ViPom9AVj/x6RcunjDep/LqXxR1wfI7SObNlzFUQqdfWCLk9TIBmS9OTSCL7PJ2KKnjH2ONzQF4Ac48hXGtIa7cIhbhmzWLTl8BxHtmZdKjUcyGwFa99bb8XvXQGNQCklZtthNxNtpOrKxyzivuy7f63qMQnjj04BMykplJ+IihXukX1CtxdGTm3kZGRnPeBufiPZ+1+SKAL0N1C0gpfjFMG8ZxcRcq

dharma200

I really hope whoever takes that internship, or whoever feels forced to take it, has a work related accident and learns all the tricks in the trade during their internship, to take their 'employers' for every penny............ that would be about all the use of it,,, jobsbridge is one of the biggest scams ever and how unions, staff and society in general allow this type of government exploitation and employer exploitation is beyond me

Rainbow_Bright

A friend showed me an email she got from Job Bridge after emailing to complain about how difficult it was making for others to find full time paid employment . She also questioned wether it was right that teaching positions were now added to the scheme. As you can see , this is why it continues - waffle and figures over rule the truth... Also, despite a mention of making checks on companies , there's little mention of the companies that were written off due to the fact that they were taking advantage.


"Dear


Thank you for your e-mail regarding JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme.

There are no plans to cancel JobBridge.

JobBridge internships are designed to provide interns with high-quality real-workplace experience to enable them to break the cycle where they are unable to progress into employment, even with good practical or academic qualifications, but lacking proven real work experience.

As at 8th August, 2013, 19,600 internships had commenced since JobBridge came into operation, 5,379 individuals were actually on internships and 2,179 internship opportunities were advertised on the JobBridge website (www.jobbridge.ie).

On 1st May, 2013, the report of the independent evaluation of JobBridge, carried out by Indecon International Economic Consultants, was launched by an Taoiseach and Minister Joan Burton. The evaluation was overwhelmingly positive, both as to the operation of the Scheme and to the progression rates into employment for individual participants.

As at November, 2012, when the research was carried out, 51.4% of former interns were currently in employment and 61.4% of former interns had progressed into employment within 5 months of completion of a JobBridge internship. These exceptionally high rates of progression into employment compare very favourably with similar schemes across Europe and are the key indicator that JobBridge is an effective labour market intervention that is helping individuals to bridge the gap to the rest of their working lives.

The Department faces competing demands on JobBridge. On the one hand, because of its effectiveness, we receive many requests to extend the eligibility and scope of the Scheme. On the other hand, it is necessary to ensure that internships do not displace existing employees or facilitate a reduction in the normal operation of the labour market.

The Department recognizes the importance of discouraging, preventing and stopping displacement and abuse. Host organisations are limited in proportion to the number of full-time employees as to how many interns they may have. Host organisations may not take on an intern in a role where an employee has been made redundant.

Host organisations may not take on another intern in the same role within six months of an internship having finished. However, this cooling-off period is waived where the host organisation has employed the finishing intern. This provision encourages those host organisations where there is a genuine possibility of a full-time or permanent position to employ the intern rather than to rely upon a series of JobBridge internships to fill positions.

The recent independent evaluation has reported that the Scheme is well-targeted and effective, with only minimal deadweight and displacement. Where instances of displacement are found to occur, they are dealt with by the Department.

A variety of control measures and criteria are in place. These ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the Intern. Further the Department of Social Protection are involved in the on-going monitoring of internships. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and the conducting of random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the Internship.

Regarding internships in the Education Sector and public sector internships in general, the, like any other, should give an intern a high-quality real-workplace experience. The benefits of an internship that fell short of a real-workplace experience to an intern presenting to a potential employer would be considerably reduced. The duties they are asked to undertake should be agreed in advance in the Standard Agreement agreed and signed by both host organization and intern before an internship begins.

The Department of Education and Skills has advised schools that they may participate in the JobBridge scheme if they wish, that the scheme may not be used to displace existing staff or to fill a current vacancy, but any positions may be offered to newly qualified teachers, allowing them to complete the probationary process and become fully registered with the Teaching Council.

JobBridge is targeting scarce exchequer resources in a balanced and effective way to meet the needs of individual citizens while, through carefully considered control measures, avoiding undermining through individual success the general economy and the normal activity of the labour market.

Best regards,

Thomas
JobBridge Team"

aodhan2

another great offer from scam bridge ! Subway sandwich artist

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=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

uck51js9zml2yt

aodhan2 wrote: »

another great offer from scam bridge ! Subway sandwich artist

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=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

wow..learning how to build I sandwich. in my day you made them!

SCOOP 64

aodhan2 wrote: »

another great offer from scam bridge ! Subway sandwich artist

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=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[/QUOTE]

Just hope nobody would actually take this internship on, if nobody did, they might be forced to take someone on full time for €8.65 a hr, the position would be filled in no time.

smileyj1987

http://jobseeker.fas.ie/Default.aspx?q=B+fomdowzS8kaDnSlUDk1zaMUPiFEeNrNWjviinu490thmC2C0u+DModTiX8by9tS6a4SyabwPc+f6B20MJpj4p1O8KuvhlQcowY333uz8DyjXTZ0IUCb7ih3QhbSob70d2Y+JdnXLw/srLb1xCc7g//tY8os4hpx91NkQqd/mdXclZeGltc2hbevc4Hr3TBqVsOCUVTD3lOR0h7dfohUior64f4jL9XBuNQJpRkFJnY8WsOkNyLIF+OmTJ5TdGyRAlIB93qa/fcj8tLkV4PkFOdxnvDA4AVABEs3WvEw11KfY+ryB5cknStdY3MRNmvY5pnDr6EnAIs5poXXe5F6isMRQM/hf5dWLdl2h3FcN8r1qW4jckR/dJjB/WpfO17qxZ+yS0yoz21zmGqiZVFno0Uk95cLDmhohw3GQ5KZlR+njTyHaF3wOx4j7Y5wd23gJmJoxt47TT8quq+UZlUPCOi26nOGJ0L

Heatons are at it now in Navan ........ I have honestly said Jobsbrigde could work but they should only be giving the internships to small comapanies and if the business grows they should be told to take on the intern for a year .

Kristopherus

Rainbow_Bright wrote: »

A friend showed me an email she got from Job Bridge after emailing to complain about how difficult it was making for others to find full time paid employment . She also questioned wether it was right that teaching positions were now added to the scheme. As you can see , this is why it continues - waffle and figures over rule the truth... Also, despite a mention of making checks on companies , there's little mention of the companies that were written off due to the fact that they were taking advantage.


"Dear


Thank you for your e-mail regarding JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme.

There are no plans to cancel JobBridge.

JobBridge internships are designed to provide interns with high-quality real-workplace experience to enable them to break the cycle where they are unable to progress into employment, even with good practical or academic qualifications, but lacking proven real work experience.

As at 8th August, 2013, 19,600 internships had commenced since JobBridge came into operation, 5,379 individuals were actually on internships and 2,179 internship opportunities were advertised on the JobBridge website (www.jobbridge.ie).

On 1st May, 2013, the report of the independent evaluation of JobBridge, carried out by Indecon International Economic Consultants, was launched by an Taoiseach and Minister Joan Burton. The evaluation was overwhelmingly positive, both as to the operation of the Scheme and to the progression rates into employment for individual participants.

As at November, 2012, when the research was carried out, 51.4% of former interns were currently in employment and 61.4% of former interns had progressed into employment within 5 months of completion of a JobBridge internship. These exceptionally high rates of progression into employment compare very favourably with similar schemes across Europe and are the key indicator that JobBridge is an effective labour market intervention that is helping individuals to bridge the gap to the rest of their working lives.

The Department faces competing demands on JobBridge. On the one hand, because of its effectiveness, we receive many requests to extend the eligibility and scope of the Scheme. On the other hand, it is necessary to ensure that internships do not displace existing employees or facilitate a reduction in the normal operation of the labour market.

The Department recognizes the importance of discouraging, preventing and stopping displacement and abuse. Host organisations are limited in proportion to the number of full-time employees as to how many interns they may have. Host organisations may not take on an intern in a role where an employee has been made redundant.

Host organisations may not take on another intern in the same role within six months of an internship having finished. However, this cooling-off period is waived where the host organisation has employed the finishing intern. This provision encourages those host organisations where there is a genuine possibility of a full-time or permanent position to employ the intern rather than to rely upon a series of JobBridge internships to fill positions.

The recent independent evaluation has reported that the Scheme is well-targeted and effective, with only minimal deadweight and displacement. Where instances of displacement are found to occur, they are dealt with by the Department.

A variety of control measures and criteria are in place. These ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the Intern. Further the Department of Social Protection are involved in the on-going monitoring of internships. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and the conducting of random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the Internship.

Regarding internships in the Education Sector and public sector internships in general, the, like any other, should give an intern a high-quality real-workplace experience. The benefits of an internship that fell short of a real-workplace experience to an intern presenting to a potential employer would be considerably reduced. The duties they are asked to undertake should be agreed in advance in the Standard Agreement agreed and signed by both host organization and intern before an internship begins.

The Department of Education and Skills has advised schools that they may participate in the JobBridge scheme if they wish, that the scheme may not be used to displace existing staff or to fill a current vacancy, but any positions may be offered to newly qualified teachers, allowing them to complete the probationary process and become fully registered with the Teaching Council.

JobBridge is targeting scarce exchequer resources in a balanced and effective way to meet the needs of individual citizens while, through carefully considered control measures, avoiding undermining through individual success the general economy and the normal activity of the labour market.

Best regards,

Thomas
JobBridge Team"

What a fantastic example of WAFFLE:mad:

cloudatlas

With regards to the jobbridge reply: I'd like to know how many of those jb interns who are now in employment were employed by the jb company. How many of them are now doing other internships and how many are in part time employment.

Turtyturd

cloudatlas wrote: »

With regards to the jobbridge reply: I'd like to know how many of those jb interns who are now in employment were employed by the jb company. How many of them are now doing other internships and how many are in part time employment.

Do the companies not have to employ 1 out of every 4 interns....or is that a myth surrounding the programme?

cloudatlas

From todays Irish Times: The difference between a quantitative study above and a qualitative study.

'Internships – exploitation or a valuable learning tool?

One upon a time, we understood internships to consist of making coffee, filing and photocopying. The recent death of a 21-year-old intern, Moritz Erhardt (below), employed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, has placed a considerably darker focus on the world of work experience, however.
Whether as a result of the global economic crisis or of greater competition for jobs, it seems some internships have evolved into 15-hour working days, all-nighters and meals in the office. While internships and work placements can offer a welcome route into competitive industries, the line between useful experience and unacceptable exploitation can become blurred.

Take for example Ireland’s national internship scheme JobBridge. When it was introduced in 2011, the Government insisted it would not be used by employers to hire cheap labour. However, the last two years have seen a number of organisations criticised for their use of it. Last month a Westmeath national school advertised a position for a primary school teacher. The nine-month position, which was open to qualified primary school teachers, involved a 30-hour working week. The intern would be paid €50 a week. In September 2011, Tesco placed an ad on the scheme for 218 “customer assistant” internships for the busy Christmas period. The full-time roles included “filling shelves” and “ensuring customers would not have to queue”. Tesco said the interns would gain practical experience in merchandising, stock rotation and “management of waste and damages”.

In other places, interns are asked to put in long working hours, often clocking up more than 100 hours per week in an effort to secure their dream jobs. This occurs in spite of the EU working time directive. While all interns in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe have basic employment rights, including the right to adequate breaks and holidays, it seems many decide to opt out in an effort to impress employers.

While they are adults that must take responsibility for their actions and decisions, they are by definition the weaker partner in the employer-intern relationship. The greater volume of responsibility for ensuring that internships work the way they should therefore lies with the bosses.'

HigsBoson

If 51.4% of interns gain employment following their time on the program, then surely it would have to be considered an overall success, though one with some flaws that need addressing. Does anyone have any info on the accuracy of this figure?

SCOOP 64

HigsBoson wrote: »

If 51.4% of interns gain employment following their time on the program, then surely it would have to be considered an overall success, though one with some flaws that need addressing. Does anyone have any info on the accuracy of this figure?

Is the 51% from the internship or from finding other work?
would like to know stats from this.

cloudatlas

HigsBoson wrote: »

If 51.4% of interns gain employment following their time on the program, then surely it would have to be considered an overall success, though one with some flaws that need addressing. Does anyone have any info on the accuracy of this figure?

I would like to know what percentage of the jobs are full-time/ permanent and not another internship or part time work.

_Layla_

I was on the jobbridge site earlier and saw that one company advertised 6 different internships today.

Surely there is a limit on the number of interns a company is allowed to have at one time?

dharma200

I think it is all in relation to the numbers they employ, so if they have large staff then they can get more interns.... The whole thing stinks anyway.....

I see a lot of companies that just hire new interns all the time on their websites, it's madness! Many of the sporting organisations have scrapped real jobs in favour of Jobbridge positions too, because they know people will want the experience and will work for nothing. TV3 used to have a load of intern positions too that have been fileld.

It's pure exploitation.

Quiet Girl

I am currently on a job bridge internship and I have to say I am really enjoying it. I am gaining valuable experience, learning so much and working with some really top notch people. I am also receiving travel expenses and lunch is provided in the office.
I suppose I am one of the lucky few who got into a decent host organisation, anyway just thought id put it out there that there are some good ones out there.

cloudatlas

Quiet Girl wrote: »

I am currently on a job bridge internship and I have to say I am really enjoying it. I am gaining valuable experience, learning so much and working with some really top notch people. I am also receiving travel expenses and lunch is provided in the office.
I suppose I am one of the lucky few who got into a decent host organisation, anyway just thought id put it out there that there are some good ones out there.

Well, I hope they find a way to keep you on and you get the same salary as the people doing your job eventually!

Quiet Girl

Put a downer on it all you want cloudatlas, but I am grateful for this opportunity and I know it is going to benefit me in the future, obviously I would like to be kept on and there have been some hints dropped by management so we will see in two months when the internship is due to end. I was simply making the point that there not ALL bad.

Can I ask what area of employment you work in Quiet Girl?

cloudatlas

Quiet Girl wrote: »

Put a downer on it all you want cloudatlas, but I am grateful for this opportunity and I know it is going to benefit me in the future, obviously I would like to be kept on and there have been some hints dropped by management so we will see in two months when the internship is due to end. I was simply making the point that there not ALL bad.

I do genuinely hope you are kept on! The fact remains people are economically being coerced to take jobs that they would otherwise get big fat pay slips for, simply can't agree with that no matter what a few people say. Just saw a jobbridge advertised for a governement researcher :rolleyes:

Quiet Girl

Phantasos, I work in HR.

Thanks Cloudatlas, I have read the horror stories and I know how frustrated and angry people are and it just makes me feel all the more lucky, I could very well be the only one whose gotten a decent employer lol.

DoctorDre

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx?q=B+fomdowzS8kaDnSlUDk1yW26DjUJdnNZmJvk4EsxDKnmmsSN00TwWxxgWNlwvHJN5uddfUVWpaI5jU840LnYhmjNdARQgo7BPynconIjhlzifs81sDt5Q2fewZ1ZUybogC2gJOFXeCn+EvdzlRgPWU0B+kSl6rYcNNXNxzWvvo5VasKwjNvbwnivLbTzJkmqk9GoskbCrgTYvHmIpFkzxSWy0s84gLlzm8BR7N3jTXojbtUOCqNdAR3ayBbZegbAvw4sMkpKC27PmdPVl2fF72YbgNUz4GxIAfYyZQtw7hfQ6AmIZZQylqbttaT0FenB7XrJSUMhI1eV0kYVFyCphyQZbqnAdH5HZk7dUiqy4eFhy+ciom751fATdKwcdb8FJXY9mlkkHMJw4R0fEBwAuiUMILRV7iIHrojy8zxcGc7/14NUl7/bmbx/CCtmcaoJFfDZAU5BdXIu2wrg4U9tx1oCNSbpBZJ

Best internship ever?