Jobs, why is it so difficult?

Jack91 · 27-02-2008, 05:40 PM

I've got a job at the moment, but my hours are starting to die down, last week I had 2 days off and this week I had today and half of tomorrow off. Usually that would be great, except I dont get paid for it. I've had alot of jobs, and this one is the best, but I dont think I'll have it for much longer. A while ago when jobhunting I rang around about 100 places asking about just doing volounteer work to get a foot in the door, but they all say the same thing about insurance. So I cant get a better job without experience, but I cant get experience because they go on about insurance if I hurt myself. So what insurance are they talking about? Do i have to get life insurance or what do I have to do so that it's all good for them and I can at least learn a few things? It's not like I wanted to work out the mines or anything, even when I was calling computer repair stores it was the same deal with the insurance. Does anyone know what they're talking about and a way around it?

EDIT - I do remember that if I was getting some sort of centrelink that would be a way around it, but I cant qualify for that either. I think they said something about a "health care card"

Tha Jack · 27-02-2008, 05:45 PM

I think the companies are talking about either public liability or workcover insurance.

fmc351 · 27-02-2008, 05:53 PM

What sort of work? I saw computer repair, so lawsuits could be an issue if you stuffed some sensitive data and they had a volunteer working on it.

Jack91 · 27-02-2008, 05:57 PM

I've got a cert2 in IT, but I had a taste of panel prep/painting a couple of months ago and liked it, so that's what Im leaning towards, hopefully an apprenticeship.

fmc351 · 27-02-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93_eb_fairmont

I've got a cert2 in IT, but I had a taste of panel prep/painting a couple of months ago and liked it, so that's what Im leaning towards, hopefully an apprenticeship.

Rock up, dont call. Rock up next month too, make it a ritual. If theyre a fair way off, rock up once, ring the rest of the time, but rock up occasionally just to get your face known.

Nothing says keen more than that, certainly worked 20 years ago anyway. They may not want anyone now, but when they do, they will remember you.

flappist · 27-02-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93_eb_fairmont

I've got a job at the moment, but my hours are starting to die down, last week I had 2 days off and this week I had today and half of tomorrow off. Usually that would be great, except I dont get paid for it. I've had alot of jobs, and this one is the best, but I dont think I'll have it for much longer. A while ago when jobhunting I rang around about 100 places asking about just doing volounteer work to get a foot in the door, but they all say the same thing about insurance. So I cant get a better job without experience, but I cant get experience because they go on about insurance if I hurt myself. So what insurance are they talking about? Do i have to get life insurance or what do I have to do so that it's all good for them and I can at least learn a few things? It's not like I wanted to work out the mines or anything, even when I was calling computer repair stores it was the same deal with the insurance. Does anyone know what they're talking about and a way around it?

EDIT - I do remember that if I was getting some sort of centrelink that would be a way around it, but I cant qualify for that either. I think they said something about a "health care card"

It is illegal to have "volunteers", you must be a paid employee or covered in a work experience scheme e.g. SITE. Thank our state governments for that one.

You are between a rock and a hard place. One thing you must make sure you understand is that if you are entry level (no actual experience) then you are not worth anywher near as much as a person with five or ten years and if you expect to be paid the same or close to it you will find yourself not doing very much at all. It is simple commercial reality. Why pay $x to someone who needs to be monitored and trained and will take much longer to do things (because you haven't learned all the tricks and shortcuts) when you can get someone you already had all that for the same money.

This always upsets the pro union guys and socialists but life is never fair.

Just keep applying for jobs, regardless of how menial, my last three trainee techs started as 1) work exp from school, 2) receptionist, 3) phone handset flogger.
If you have talent your boss will spot it and use it. If he does not then you either don't have talent or he is not a good boss and will not last long.

If computer geekism is your goal learn about MS servers, Linux, IP, Cisco and whatever else you can. This will make you a lot more employable than a thousand cert (insert number here) from TAFE.

Good luck with it. Remember the advantage with starting at the bottom is you can look down and see where you started later.......

bingoTE50 · 27-02-2008, 07:37 PM

Buddy , what about a pre apprenticeship - workskills course. Contact TAFE and see whats available. At least you will still learn something as a full time student and gain experience..

Jack91 · 27-02-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

It is illegal to have "volunteers", you must be a paid employee or covered in a work experience scheme e.g. SITE. Thank our state governments for that one.

You are between a rock and a hard place. One thing you must make sure you understand is that if you are entry level (no actual experience) then you are not worth anywher near as much as a person with five or ten years and if you expect to be paid the same or close to it you will find yourself not doing very much at all. It is simple commercial reality. Why pay $x to someone who needs to be monitored and trained and will take much longer to do things (because you haven't learned all the tricks and shortcuts) when you can get someone you already had all that for the same money.

This always upsets the pro union guys and socialists but life is never fair.

Just keep applying for jobs, regardless of how menial, my last three trainee techs started as 1) work exp from school, 2) receptionist, 3) phone handset flogger.
If you have talent your boss will spot it and use it. If he does not then you either don't have talent or he is not a good boss and will not last long.

If computer geekism is your goal learn about MS servers, Linux, IP, Cisco and whatever else you can. This will make you a lot more employable than a thousand cert (insert number here) from TAFE.

Good luck with it. Remember the advantage with starting at the bottom is you can look down and see where you started later.......

Money doesn't bother me, I only make about $60/day now. I just want to be doing something. And I did do the "Pre employment" or whatever it was called course a few months ago.