Graduate programmes provide a chance to really hone and develop the skills you learned on your degree. Firms are hiring, but entry to the best graduate programmes can be competitive — so how can you best ensure you nab a space on the right one?
Ruairi Kavanagh, editor of gradireland, says more than half of employers are growing or maintaining their graduate programme.
“There is still huge demand,” he says. “Graduates are attracted by the range of programmes on offer, whether remote, hybrid or fully on-site. The outlook is still strong despite the current problems in the world.”
Gradireland recently hosted its largest summer fair, with more employers than ever looking to recruit.
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“The seminars were full of graduates asking questions, and they were eager for face-to-face interaction,” says Kavanagh.
Mary McCarthy, careers adviser at University College Cork, says the graduate recruitment programme starts early, and a lot of the seasoned companies have a well-oiled machine and approach students on campus early.
Catherine Staunton, head of careers and employability at Dundalk IT, says employers are looking for particular attributes in their graduate hires.
“We carried out a consultative process with employers, students, alumni and staff and found that there were four main ‘capstones’ [that employers want and graduates need]: practicality, communication, collaboration and confidence. While graduates are also globally aware and focused on sustainability, these four stood out.”
As part of the Embedding Employability initiative, Dundalk IT focuses on developing these four key skills in all its programmes, helping students to be more workplace-ready, and the college recently won a National Employability award for its efforts here.
“Job applicants need to show that they understand what the employer wants,” says Staunton. “This means tailoring the CV and cover letter to each job application. A LinkedIn profile is also key. Graduates should practice their interview skills, perhaps using their college careers service to do a mock interview. Here, they should also do a practice video interview, bearing in mind that some companies have a pre-recorded set of questions and that you may have just 90 seconds to answer the question.”
Kavanagh agrees that a CV is important.
“It’s the starting point for any graduate,” he says. “It’s important as well to ensure that your LinkedIn matches your CV and that they’re not telling two different stories. Employers may look at your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so do be mindful of the image you are putting out there. Remember that your personal brand is what people say about you when you leave the room and ask family and friends if the image you want to portray is what you are really putting across.”
McCarthy says entry to graduate programmes is competitive so, to ensure that coveted spot, the CV needs to be well-honed.
“It has to be impeccable and this can take between four to six drafts,” she says. “Graduate programmes are often looking for more than just your degree: they want you to show you have initiative, have engaged with life and made some impact, whether that is through college societies and sports clubs or through volunteering or work experience. Put whatever you have done — whether working in the local takeaway or getting involved in a college club — under a forensic microscope.
“Look at your strengths and demonstrate times you showed initiative or had responsibility — perhaps this might be when you trained new people in. Think carefully about the skills you used or developed in your role. We don’t often think of [or] value them, but it could be that you dealt with customers, or had to think on your feet. Think of what you are most proud of or what you did well: this may be that you were polite and courteous at all times, or you reordered the stocking system. Anything that shows you made a positive impact is valuable.
“You could also highlight projects and assignments that show your enthusiasm for your degree — and it’s never too late to take a short micro-credential, perhaps a free course on the likes of Coursera. Remain open to being involved in something new.”
Kavanagh and McCarthy both say graduates should ensure the company is the right fit for them, rather than just contorting into a role they don’t really want for a company they may not really like.
“Graduates are looking for work-life balance, wellbeing, flexibility and a hybrid working option,” McCarthy says. “The starting salary is a big one — and there are high expectations among graduates, but this is the first step in your career. You should also consider whether there is ongoing training, support and progression opportunities and that you won’t just be stuck at your desk with a few repetitive tasks.
“I’m also noticing that graduates — perhaps feeling they’ve been a bit cooped up over the past few years because of Covid — are keen to travel and may not necessarily want to commit to a two- or three-year programme where they are based in Ireland.”
