Hi All,
This week I am going to focus on work experience. We all know it is important not to have large gaps in our CVs. So how do we prevent these gaps when we are unemployed? We need to show potential employers that we used our time on the dole constructively. This could be done by doing a short course or by building up work experience.
In relation to work experience, this could include volunteering once a week, participating in a Community Employment Scheme or undertaking a FAS WORK Placement/Internship.
Personally, I have volunteered with a number of organisations and I have also undertaken a FAS Work Placement and an unpaid internship.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, have fun and upskill all at the same time. You can find your local volunteer centre here: http://www.volunteer.ie/
Below is a list of websites which list volunteering opportunities;
http://www.irelandinvolved.ie/
http://www.volunteeringireland.ie/vi_opps.php
http://www.activelink.ie/
Community Employment Scheme
This scheme offers a part-time placement in a community organisation. Participants work for 19.5 hours a week whilst retaining their social welfare entitlements. Participants are also entitled to certain allowances and funding whilst on the scheme. See the FAS website for more information;
http://www.fas.ie/en/communities/community+employment/default.htm
FAS Work Placement Programme
The Work Placement Programme is a Government supported programme that brings employers and the unemployed together for a work experience placement for a maximum duration of nine months. This is a full time placement where participants are entitled to keep their previous social welfare entitlements. However, unlike the Community Employment Scheme, participants are not entitled to any extra allowances. For more information, see below;
http://www.fas.ie/en/WPP/Participants.htm
JobBridge
JobBridge is a new national internship scheme which will provide for up to 5,000 work experience placements in the private, public and voluntary sectors. These placements will last between 6 and 9 months. Interns will receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement. See the Jobbridge website below for more information;
http://www.jobbridge.ie/
Tús - Community Work Placement Initiative
Tús provides short term community work opportunities for unemployed people. There are 5,000 opportunities being made available in 2011 in rural and urban parts of Ireland. Participants will receive €20 on top of their usual social welfare benefits.
This jobs initiative is different from the others in that those interested cannot simply contact the organisation offering the placement but must instead wait for their local social welfare office to contact them. An individual cannot refuse to take up a Tús placement without good reason.
For more information, see below;
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/tus.html
Finally, I would love to hear your comments on these work initiatives. What do you think? Would you be interested in any of them? Or maybe you have volunteered or participated in an internship/work placement already and would like to share your experience.
All comments are welcome!
Next time, I will have a look at training opportunities for the unemployed in Ireland.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday,
Breeda
