FAS - Work Placement Programme

Hi all

I'm working for a company which is closing soon. Im a junior software engineer.

I graduated in 2008 and I really havent got much experience at all in IT. Not enough to even make it as a Junior developer which all say 1-2 years experience required.

Is there a possibility that I could apply for this FAS scheme even though I graduated two years ago?

I really dont care about pay. I just want experience at the moment. I would even work for free if I thought I was going to get good experience. I'm looking to work in the IT field of Java, C#, Groovy or database development.

Thanks!

The dtails of the scheme can be viewed at the following link.

http://www.fas.ie/en/WPP/Participants.htm

My nephew, who had been unemployed for over a year, recently started on one of the graduate placements. He finds it superb. It's rounding him off in the sense that he's getting vaubale work experience to complement his qualificationss. And of course he's got the value of having a purpose to his day.

The danger of any such scheme however is that there will be employers who might regard it as an oportunity to get cheap labour with less interest in the developmental aspects of the role. Do a bit of sifting of the opportunities to isloate the best ones. Don't assume they're all the same.

Best of luck.

Thanks Staples!

I rang the FAS office. I qualify for the graduate WPP.

I'm really hoping I wont have to wait till I'm made redundant to find a job.

I'd immediately join a company on minimum wage right now if they were to give me some development experience. It's impossible to find an IT job if you have very little experience

This is a bit late sorry

I considered this option as a 2009 graduate. However I was caught out in that I was not eligible for the dole which meant yes I could do the work placement project but it meant I would not get any pay or expenses and would be working a 30 hour week (40 in one of the placements)

If you are on the dole you will be able to keep your dole and do the placement. Assuming you are not currently on the dole then it means you will get 150euro max since the rate has decreased since the budget.

However like you said anything for experience and right now I am working for free for experience (independently and not through wpp) It will be worth it in the long run.

Staples said:

The danger of any such scheme however is that there will be employers who might regard it as an oportunity to get cheap labour with less interest in the developmental aspects of the role.

Click to expand...

Indeed - there are shelf-stacking jobs and barman jobs on this scheme - which will of course reduce the market rates for these jobs - the IBEC wet dream.