Working for Work : Chapter 3 : Looking for Work

Help with Getting a Job

Local Resource Centres

Local Resource Centres are independent organisations offering a range of services and supports to help unemployed people find work.

These centres can help you by providing free and confidential 'Welfare to Work' and welfare rights information. They can provide assistance in preparing your C.V. and cover letters, as well as filling in application forms. In addition they may be able to provide information on local job vacancies, access to the FÁS website and daily newspapers.

A number of Centres run Jobs Clubs which provide a range of tailored resources and supports designed to help people find work. For more information see details on Jobs Clubs in this chapter.

FÁS - Employment Services

FÁS, the National Training and Employment Authority, is organised as a network of regional and local offices around the country which includes 20 Training Centres. FÁS Employment Services is the Public Employment Service in Ireland and has responsibility for the development and delivery of a vocational guidance and placement service. The aim of the service is to act as a gateway to all FÁS and other relevant labour market services, to provide a national high quality recruitment service which will help jobseekers, in particular those who are most marginalised, to enter/ re-enter the active labour market and to provide a high quality Employment Service to employers by matching and filling vacancies at all levels. In achieving this aim, FÁS will prioritise specific target groups, especially those who find it difficult to access labour market opportunities, in order to stem the flow into long-term unemployment and to: -

• help unemployed people to find employment or to return to the workforce -
• meet the skill needs of employers by referring unemployed people to relevant training programmes -
• provide intensive support to disadvantaged groups -
• assist employers to fill their vacancies

A job seeker attending an Employment Service Office receives a guidance interview with an Employment Services Officer (ESO) who is available to advise on employment opportunities, training courses and other options which may lead to employment. In addition they may refer you to your Local Employment Service (LES) or local Jobs Club for further support. Details of all FÁS services available, along with other information about living and working in Ireland is available in all accession languages for those clients whose mother tongue may not be English.

The registration form used by the ESO will record the details of the type of training and/or employment you may be looking for. If you are unsure of what type of courses are available to suit your needs your local ESO can advise you and explain the details and benefits of the courses. If you have any questions or need assistance in filling in the registration form the ESO will be happy to help you.

It is important that you get the most benefit from the services FÁS provide. You should contact FÁS regularly to update your record, otherwise you may miss out on opportunities. Information and details on all vacancies registered with FÁS, together with details on employment and training programmes is available through the FÁS website www.fás.ie or FÁS Job Seekers Services - (FÁS Jobs Ireland) - Freephone Service for Job Seekers - 1800 611 116. If you wish to put up your Curriculum Vitae on the FÁS website www.fás.ie select Find Job and register as a job seeker. Employers use this facility to make contact with potential job seekers and has resulted in a large number of successful job placements.

Internet:

All the services offered by FÁS can be accessed on www.fás.ie which includes job vacancies (including Northern Ireland vacancies), course information, allowances etc. If you do not have internet access from home you can still access the FÁS website from any Library or Internet café or from the touch screen kiosks in any FÁS Office.

Information in FÁS Offices

FÁS offices can be very useful sources of information for jobseekers. As information on vacancies and employment schemes are frequently updated. We recommend that you regularly use your local FÁS offices. -

Noticeboard:

Each FÁS office will have a notice board displaying advertisements for jobs, Community Employment Schemes, and other employment schemes. All local offices provide a free service where you can use their telephones when phoning about work. -

Touch Screen Kiosks:

FÁS have touch screen kiosks with print facilities in each Employment Services Office that give information on jobs and training. It guides you through the information in a step-by-step manner.

Newspapers:

FÁS display all job adverts from newspapers on a daily basis.

'Career Directions'

is an interactive tool that can help you select a job or career. It provides details on the nature of the work, the qualifications needed and where to go for further information. 'Career Directions' can be accessed over the Internet on the website www.careerdirections.ie. -

Information on FÁS Services and Living and Working in Ireland:

Available in all accession languages.

Working in Europe

If you are interested in working in the European Economic Area (European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), there are over 16 Advisors throughout FÁS who will give specialist advice through the EURES (European Placement Services) system.

Details of jobs in other European countries are also available on the internet at http://europa.eu.int/eures as is information on living and working conditions in these countries.

 

i You may be entitled to transfer your Jobseeker's Benefit to another European Economic Area country for a period of up to three months while looking for work there. You cannot transfer Jobseeker's Allowance

 

Jobs Clubs

Jobs Clubs are available as a support to job seekers who require some assistance in preparing their CV's, improving their interview skills or in identifying possible job opportunities. Part-time job seeking / interview skills and the support of experienced staff are available on a structured basis for a period of up to 5 weeks. Thereafter, participants can avail of the facilities of the Jobs Club until such time as they find a suitable job. Jobs Club participants retain their Social Welfare entitlements and receive an additional bonus while on the formal Jobs Club modules. -

Formal Training

These courses can range from three to five weeks in length depending on the needs of the group. They run on a part-time basis from 9.00am - 1.00pm three to five days per week. Each course covers a range of areas including: C.V. preparation, Writing Cover letters, Completing Application Forms, finding and following Job Leads, Telephone Skills, Interview Preparation and Interview Skills. -

Resource Centre

In addition to the Formal Training available the Jobs Club will provide you with a range of long-term support services and facilities to help you look for work. These include: typing cover letters, updating and amending C.V.'s and assisting with photocopying/faxing and postage. -

Sourcing Jobs

The Jobs Club will help you to build up a good knowledge of how and where to find jobs. Through its extensive contacts with FÁS and other organisations it will match you with existing job vacancies and be aware of potential vacancies in the future. For more information on Jobs Clubs please contact your local FÁS Employment Services Officer.

The Local Employment Service (LES)

Local Employment Service's were set up throughout the country in response to the need to help long-term unemployed people find jobs (see Chapter 7). The overall aim of the service is to enable you to explore the range of education, training and employment options available and to plan your use of these options to help you progress from welfare to work.

Your local LES offices, or Contact Points, are identifiable by the 'OBAIR Local Employment Service' sign. Through these Contact Points you can access the services of mediators and guidance counsellors who are available to assist you in accessing the jobseeking services and supports you need.

The mediator will work with you in developing your C.V. and jobseeking skills. They will develop a jobseeking plan that will focus on your skills and abilities, to help you find the type of job you want. Mediators have extensive contacts with local employers and can be helpful in finding local employment opportunities.

LES guidance counsellors can provide you with information about training, further education and second chance educational programmes. They will talk to you about your career options and identify any training programmes that may be of benefit to you. The guidance counsellor will work with you, helping to evaluate the various options available and support you in your decisions.

Through the services of both the mediator and guidance counsellors you will be able to look at the various employment schemes that might be suitable for you now and make plans for getting work after you finish the scheme(s). If you feel you want to make a longer-term plan and do some training or go back to school or college the LES will also be able to help you consider your options. Some of the LES's offer access to childcare facilities, operate Jobs Clubs and can offer specialised training courses.

Local Development Companies

Local Development Companies were established to tackle growing unemployment in particular areas of the country. Each Local Develpment Company is made up of representatives from the business community, state agencies and community groups (see Chapter 7).

Local Development Companies combat unemployment and the causes of unemployment in their area by developing and supporting services to unemployed people and through involvement in other special programmes.

Social Welfare Facilitators

The role of the Facilitator is to help inform and assist people in using their employment options to move from welfare to work. As part of the Employment Support Unit of the Department of Social Protection they are based at local Social Welfare Offices around the country.

Facilitators will regularly co-operate with mediators, Jobs Clubs and Partnership Companies in helping unemployed people to progress to employment. For more information contact your local Social Welfare Office, or Employment Support Services (01) 704 3165.

Last Updated: 31/08/2011 ^ back to top