The Jobbridge Scandal

BlatentCheek

Xenji wrote: »

We have an intern in at the moment and it is basically the quietest time of the year for us, so most managers are away, for the whole of this week the intern sent one email and spent the rest of his time on the web.

Which goes to show how unpaid labour is used inefficiently. He wastes his time and your company extracts minimal benefit, while the taxpayer foots the bill and gets a poor return for its money.

dxhound2005

BlatentCheek wrote: »

I'm told, by people who work in media, that the media outlets don't give it any play because many of them rely on Jobbridge (and other unpaid internships) themselves.

To be honest I'm surprised that more people in the opposition don't make hay off this. The Scambridge site can be a bit off-putting because its position as a Socialist Party front shines through. A non-aligned site merely setting out all employers who advertise and benefit from jobbridge, and which ones fire the intern to hire a new one after a month or so, would be a tremendous asset.

What media outlets? And if they rely on Jobbridge that would be against the intention of the scheme. It is meant only ever to supply a small percentage of any workforce. What other schemes did they mention as well as Jobbridge? The biggest one Community Employment would not be suitable for media outlets as far as I know. I did a search for Radio for Television and for Newspapers on the Jobbridge site but there are currently no placements being advertised. Can you get some detailed information from your media contacts?

I have seen quite a bit in the media about Jobbridge myself so your contacts must be giving you other stuff that wasn't published (didn't get any play)?

ivytwine

I'm a media graduate.

In Galway, the Connacht Tribune uses Jobbridge.

In Dublin RTE uses Jobbridge. TV3 uses completely unpaid interns. Websites such as Her.ie and Sheology use 'paid' interns- ie €600 a month (in Dublin). The Irish Examiner also uses low-paid internships- while they may not be necessarily jobbridge, they amount to much the same.

These are the ones off the top of my head.

Edit: I'll some links from a Facebook jobs page I'm on later, but these might well be expired.

dxhound2005

ivytwine wrote: »

I'm a media graduate.

In Galway, the Connacht Tribune uses Jobbridge.

In Dublin RTE uses Jobbridge. TV3 uses completely unpaid interns. Websites such as Her.ie and Sheology use 'paid' interns- ie €600 a month (in Dublin). The Irish Examiner also uses low-paid internships- while they may not be necessarily jobbridge, they amount to much the same.

These are the ones off the top of my head.

Edit: I'll some links from a Facebook jobs page I'm on later, but these might well be expired.

Would you call these proper internships where people would learn useful skills to enhance their prospects of employment? Or are they the equivalent of the shop assistant etc placements much complained about here, the so called slave labour?

ivytwine

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Would you call these proper internships where people would learn useful skills to enhance their prospects of employment? Or are they the equivalent of the shop assistant etc placements much complained about here, the so called slave labour?

I would definitely consider them worthy of helping people learn skills etc. However, enhancing their prospects of employment in an industry where paid entry-level and even in some cases, middle-ranking, jobs are now internships? Emmmm....

However, there's quite a bit of skullduggery going on and these are even less regulated than Jobbridge. Have heard of interns being replaced by interns, people being shown the door afterwards with a smile and "well you know we can't employ you" and an endless merry-go-round of internships for those of my friends (foolish enough?) to be still in media. It has gotten to the stage where someone of my acquaintance getting a paid job in media is highly unusual.

I know the newspaper industry is struggling, and I know digital is still getting off the ground, but for the likes of RTE to be using Jobbridge is outrageous.

BlatentCheek is spot on. The reason that there's little reporting of this is because the media itself is propped up on unpaid/low-paid internships as well as Jobbridge.

Augmerson

Chris___ wrote: »

http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/31253

That is the maddest thing I've read in a while.

pbear007

Augmerson wrote: »

That is the maddest thing I've read in a while.

Staff from govt dept cold call companies placing jobs and ask them to convert them to Jobbridge 'internships' ?!If this is true they should all resign in the morning or at the very least Burton .

" The jobs in question had been advertised on the internet and it would appear that the people involved have been trawling websites, cold-calling the companies and inviting them to turn the real jobs into internships under JobBridge. It is hard to see what benefit the state would gain from such a practice. "

Main 'benefit' I can see is pushing down labour costs massively to aid their IBEC string pullers.

Phil_Lives

I mailed the Councillor asking him why he hadn't tried to secure the phone log to determine the origin of the call and he never replied to me. I hate the scheme with a passion but without him going to the effort of securing proof I think the report can't be believed.

amacca

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

[


The "Role" of Solicitors.

Muppets.

"Eligible to hold a practising" muppets indeed

NZ_2014

BlatentCheek wrote: »

A non-aligned site merely setting out all employers who advertise and benefit from jobbridge, and which ones fire the intern to hire a new one after a month or so, would be a tremendous asset.

Sounds like a good idea. Would be simple enough to set up for somebody with basic or half decent website skills, but would require a fair bit of work to keep updated.

Maybe a few people could work together on this.

Mint Aero

Augmerson wrote: »

That is the maddest thing I've read in a while.

Thankfully we have a decent hard working party Sinn Fein bringing us the truth. Absolute scum our government is. I'm working in England now at my job for normal pay. I spent 6 months in Ireland looking but was met with nothing but this utter f*ckwit bullsh*t. ABSOLUTE SCUMBAG C*NTS!

Kai123

Xenji wrote: »

We have an intern in at the moment and it is basically the quietest time of the year for us, so most managers are away, for the whole of this week the intern sent one email and spent the rest of his time on the web.

My 1st month was like this. Quietest time, nothing to do, and no-one to show me how to do anything. It was a waste of time.

The idea that this is voluntary is very empowering though, and I can leave at any time (1 week notice of course). I ask for things that I would never of done before, and generally piss off my work colleagues by asking them 100 questions a day. I'm making the most out of it now and learn something new everyday, and almost at the point of being autonomous.

The plan was once I learnt all I could, leave and try and get another jobbridge that needed more experience (system admin). The IT manager has said he wants to make me admin of mobile devices and security, so hes kinda got me hooked now.

I hate this scheme, but my CV is like night and day compared to before (no IT work experience but certs coming out of my arse).

pharmaton

Kai123 wrote: »

My 1st month was like this. Quietest time, nothing to do, and no-one to show me how to do anything. It was a waste of time.

The idea that this is voluntary is very empowering though, and I can leave at any time (1 week notice of course). I ask for things that I would never of done before, and generally piss off my work colleagues by asking them 100 questions a day. I'm making the most out of it now and learn something new everyday, and almost at the point of being autonomous.

The plan was once I learnt all I could, leave and try and get another jobbridge that needed more experience (system admin). The IT manager has said he wants to make me admin of mobile devices and security, so hes kinda got me hooked now.

I hate this scheme, but my CV is like night and day compared to before (no IT work experience but certs coming out of my arse).

made me laugh, I can relate. My first week was quiet before it went into working mode. I felt the same way, go in and get as much experience and use the nine months to find work. I decided early to not allow myself become attached and that helped me retain a sense of self direction and freedom that I don't think I would otherwise have if I were a full time employee.

Then I landed a lucky spot in an interesting dept with people who I hope to stay in touch with even when my time there runs out. (even though I did drive them nuts asking 100 questions a day too ) I've been there two months now and while I have found some part time employment I'm content to keep working away at the internship just because the experience is a great addition to my cv.
(I say this knowing I will be moving departments next week and haven't a clue where I'll end up so I might have changed my tune by then)

The truth is it works so well on my CV I applied for a job Wednesday morning and was called for interview 8 hours later and the closing date for applications hadn't even been reached at that stage. I just walked straight in the door. Powerful stuff.

Daenarys

Those of you on job bridge or have done one, do you highlight the fact it was an internship on your CV or just put it down like it was a normal job? My sister has tonnes of experience, was made redundant, and couldn't get any proper paid employment in her field so is hoping to do an internship to have something current on her CV. I wonder how it's perceived in this situation by potential employers. Surely only shines a positive light that you'll work for free, she fears it will look like she can be taken advantage of, be offered lower wages etc.

Iwasfrozen

Daenarys wrote: »

Those of you on job bridge or have done one, do you highlight the fact it was an internship on your CV or just put it down like it was a normal job? My sister has tonnes of experience, was made redundant, and couldn't get any proper paid employment in her field so is hoping to do an internship to have something current on her CV. I wonder how it's perceived in this situation by potential employers. Surely only shines a positive light that you'll work for free, she fears it will look like she can be taken advantage of, be offered lower wages etc.

My advice would be if they don't ask don't tell but if they do ask always be truthful.

Daenarys

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

My advice would be if they don't ask don't tell but if they do ask always be truthful.

Yeah I suppose and they would always ask what your last salary was too, can't really make that one up without getting caught out

pharmaton

I mentioned it in both my cover letter and on my CV. In fairness it is a sweet position and I wouldn't feel the need to hide it and I'm more than happy to discuss it with prospective employers. (just to add, the part time work I applied for is in the same sector but isn't in the same area of work so while the pay isn't great it's still better than minimum wage at just under €11 p/h and would be handy income to have when combined with my internship)

WinnyThePoo

I'm now almost completing 1/3 of my internship.

It's in sales. I'm going to be honest I do not like sales at all. Cold calling is a bitch and I haven't found it easier as the time has went on.
I do not regret taking up the internship though. It's filling a gap in the CV, its given me a boost of confidence and I've learnt a fair few things.

I'm currently applying for other internships at the moment. Not getting interviews, different fields from sales I suppose. I want to leave this one pretty soon.
It's a small office and the people are nice , but sales is just not for me.

B.A._Baracus

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

.... It's a small office and the people are nice , but sales is just not for me.....

Cold calling is terrible. It's not for me too.
But from my short amount of time doing it (and failing at it ) I honestly think a person has to be ruthless and such a bullshitter to succeed.
It's almost like if that's not natually you ... or you can't take on that mentality ... then forget about it.

But winny, am suprised you are doing an intership that has cold-calling involved. As so many paid positions are out there.

WinnyThePoo

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Cold calling is terrible. It's not for me too.
But from my short amount of time doing it (and failing at it ) I honestly think a person has to be ruthless and such a bullshitter to succeed.
It's almost like if that's not natually you ... or you can't take on that mentality ... then forget about it.

But winny, am suprised you are doing an intership that has cold-calling involved. As so many paid positions are out there.

Yea I agree with you. You have to the mentality to cold call. I cringe when I make them, the faces I pull.

I had been applying for jobs and jobbridges a lot and getting no luck. I had applied for the sales position with not much thought to it. Got an interview then another one and then the job.
It was depressing not getting anywhere with other applications so I had to take it.
I suppose one thing I have learned is that i'd prefer a job away from sales.
I don't regret it for the benefits its given me.

CramCycle

Daenarys wrote: »

Yeah I suppose and they would always ask what your last salary was too, can't really make that one up without getting caught out

I would never give my last salary out, I would give an expected salary. If they asked, I would reply with my expected salary is....

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

CramCycle

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

You can't, they either believe you or they don't. An ex of mine was convinced they could look at your previous pay and figure it out. If you don't want them to know, don't give them the details, just hand in a tax cert or ring the tax office and ask them to supply your available credits to the company.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Kai123

pharmaton wrote: »

made me laugh, I can relate. My first week was quiet before it went into working mode. I felt the same way, go in and get as much experience and use the nine months to find work. I decided early to not allow myself become attached and that helped me retain a sense of self direction and freedom that I don't think I would otherwise have if I were a full time employee.

Then I landed a lucky spot in an interesting dept with people who I hope to stay in touch with even when my time there runs out. (even though I did drive them nuts asking 100 questions a day too ) I've been there two months now and while I have found some part time employment I'm content to keep working away at the internship just because the experience is a great addition to my cv.
(I say this knowing I will be moving departments next week and haven't a clue where I'll end up so I might have changed my tune by then)

The truth is it works so well on my CV I applied for a job Wednesday morning and was called for interview 8 hours later and the closing date for applications hadn't even been reached at that stage. I just walked straight in the door. Powerful stuff.

I have asking questions to colleagues down to an art form. Knowing its voluntary can be a bit empowering, especially when it comes to getting the most out of it.

I don't think I will last the full 9 months though. Its in the public sector and even with my lack of office experience, I already know its nothing like private sector work in the same field.

Kai123

Daenarys wrote: »

Those of you on job bridge or have done one, do you highlight the fact it was an internship on your CV or just put it down like it was a normal job? My sister has tonnes of experience, was made redundant, and couldn't get any proper paid employment in her field so is hoping to do an internship to have something current on her CV. I wonder how it's perceived in this situation by potential employers. Surely only shines a positive light that you'll work for free, she fears it will look like she can be taken advantage of, be offered lower wages etc.

If I leave before my contract is over and before I find a proper job, I will put it down as an internship. I can explain that I learnt all I could and wanted a different experience.

If I got an interview during the internship, then I would keep it to myself.

pharmaton

Kai123 wrote: »

I don't think I will last the full 9 months though. Its in the public sector and even with my lack of office experience, I already know its nothing like private sector work in the same field.

I'm in the public sector too. I have some admin experience in the private sector but the area I'm in right now is quite specialised so I'm not sure how I feel about which way to go just yet. I did spend the last year doing a traineeship aimed at this work specifically and I have a previous qualification in social care which combined with past admin work makes me sort of moulded for where I'm at. (that was the plan originally)

I still feel like I'm in no mans land at the minute though. I just can't visualise where I will be in six months. Part of me knows I would get bored of plain old office work back in the private sector and I start thinking that getting more qualifications is more of a requirement for something more rewarding. There are some redeeming factors with the work I'm doing now however. I get to have a go in most of the departments which gives me an all round experience and that keeps things challenging and makes me more skilled. (and ultimately more employable)

I should have a better idea toward the end of my internship about each of these areas and hopefully one (or more) of them will be the golden thread that ties my experience and skills together.

18MonthsaSlave

The Irish Examiner have a report on the front page of tomorrows paper reporting that Cork Co. Co. may opt out of the Jobbridge and Gateway schemes.

The majority of the Councillors believe the schemes are wrong because none of the applicants have a realistic change of being employed by the council after their internships come to an end.

Xenji

18MonthsaSlave wrote: »

The Irish Examiner have a report on the front page of tomorrows paper reporting that Cork Co. Co. may opt out of the Jobbridge and Gateway schemes.

The majority of the Councillors believe the schemes are wrong because none of the applicants have a realistic change of being employed by the council after their internships come to an end.

Wish Mayo Co Co would do the same, we could employ at least 50 new full time staff.

Hermy

18MonthsaSlave wrote: »

The majority of the Councillors believe the schemes are wrong because none of the applicants have a realistic change of being employed by the council after their internships come to an end.

That's refreshing to read.