Sir, – Having taken note of the media debate on the merits and abuses of the JobBridge system, I feel compelled to ask: do people really want these positions? We are an IT services and development company, serving customers in Ireland and the UK. For some time, we have been contemplating an investment in developing a new product and this scheme seemed to offer us some help as we researched this project, while also providing invaluable experience to a person looking for their break into employment.
We advertised via JobBridge for someone to help us determine the right products, do some market research and help us to put together a business case for use with our bankers and bodies such as the County Enterprise Board. We explicitly stated that this was not a sales role.
The position combined elements of marketing, product development, finance and administration. A significant mentoring opportunity was inherent in this role. Our ideal candidate was a graduate looking for some real-world experience but, as our ad stated, the most important qualifications were a willingness to learn, a desire to succeed and a commitment to delivering their best.
In the three months that JobBridge.ie carried this opportunity, not only did we not manage to fill this position but we got no applicants. Not one.
I can only presume that there were better offers out there. – Yours, etc,