: R % % UCD 1 THIS GUID THIS R www.ucd.ie/careers % Vacancies and internships and Vacancies seeking recruiters with graduates UCD in Ireland Opportunities beyond and in succeed to How interviews and applications know to need you What study graduate about @ INSID 5% C 2014/15 GUID

Submit your CV and cover letter via sig.com Welcome

START HERE t us ntac Co TO GET YOUR UCD Career Development Centre, Library Building University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: 00 353 (0) 1 716 7574 FUTURE Email: [email protected] Web: www.ucd.ie/careers Also search for UCD Career Development Centre on Facebook and Twitter. SORTED

UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Welcome to the fifth edition of the UCD Career Guide, a publication written specifically for the Carysfort Avenue students of UCD. Blackrock Co. Dublin Using student feedback each year, the UCD Career Guide has been developed and enhanced as Email: [email protected] an effective online and hard-copy resource for students. Feedback also demonstrates that the Tel: 00 353 (0) 1 716 8934 Career Guide enables students to accomplish a range of career-related goals. Making good use of this guide will allow you to: • Consider your career options; • Explore what UCD graduates have gone on to do; g times • Access information on graduate study and funding; nin pe • Identify and enhance a range of skills employers look for often called transferable or O employability skills; Belfield Campus Monday to Friday: • Develop a winning CV that will get you to interview and understand how to deliver an interview 9.00 am – 5.00 pm performance. Blackrock Campus Monday to Friday: UCD Career Development Centre is committed to helping students prepare for life beyond 9.30 am-5.00 pm university. We seek to help you identify, develop and present your academic achievement and employability skills effectively to employers, understand how best to engage the labour market and uncover the hidden jobs market. Whether you have a clear vision of where your career will take you, or are just beginning to look at your options, we can be of help. Visit our centre, check out our website – www.ucd.ie/careers, like us on facebook (facebook.com/ucdcareers) and follow us on twitter (@UCDCareers). We look forward to meeting you. David Dr David Foster, Director

Produced by Advertising Commercial director ISSN: 2045-3000 GTI Ireland, 14–16 Lord Gavan O’Brien, sales product Jon Mallott ISBN:1 84318 853 8 Edward Street, Dublin 2. champion; the gradireland and Sales director Simon Rogers Printer Headley Brothers, T: + 353 (0) 1 645 1500 TARGETjobs sales teams; the Marketing director Ashford gradireland.com campaign management team Chloe Burgess Editors Sophie Carey Marketing Production director Sinead Foy, Aisling Carroll Editorial Ruairi Kavanagh Jane Anderson Series designer Series editor Andie Warren Publishing director Nick Winchester Chris Phillips Design Thomas Gray Group CEO Graham Storey

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 1 INSIDE THIS GUIDE

Applying for jobs

21 Think! Business start-up 23 Cv's that hit the mark 25 Anatomy of a covering letter that works 26 Be smart with your application 27 Assessment centres 28 Interviews

UCD students are in demand Finding a job 00CarryImpress on at studying: interviews Options for everyone 4 Leading employers recruit at UCD 16 Going Global 6 The UCD Career Development Centre 18 Studying abroad:the next step 29 Carry on studying:options for everyone 7 Connecting students to future careers 20 Student competitions: Networking for 8 What we can do for you success

Top tips on winning interview techniques p. 28

Exploring your career options

9 Your roadmap to success 10 Building a positive online presence with LinkedIn 11 Plan your next steps 12 Let your experience work for you 14 Internships: A stepping stone to securing the graduate job you want

2 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers

Employers

33 Leading employers who want to hear from you Employers Aldi ...... IBC, 35 BAE Systems ...... (34), 35 The UCD Career Development Centre website Go to www.ucd.ie/careers for a range of BDO ...... 35, (36) resources and information to help you plan The Boston Consulting Group ...... 35 and manage your career, including: • Applications and interviews: Learn how to CHP Consulting...... 37 make an effective application for graduate Crowe Horwath...... 37 study and/or employment and succeed at interview. Deloitte ...... 39 • Career opportunities: Use our electronic Irish Distillers information, resource room and careers connect (our internship and graduate Pernod Ricard ...... (38), 39 vacancies database) to move your career Kerry Group...... 39 forward. • Vault: An interactive, educational resource KPMG ...... 39 to help you plan and manage your career. Lidl ...... (32) • Profiling for success: Explore your aptitudes (verbal, numerical and spatial M&G Investments ...... 41 reasoning) and personality type in relation Mott MacDonald ...... 41 to your career. Complete practice aptitude tests and personality questionnaires and PwC ...... OBC, 41 receive feedback. Susquehanna...... IFC • Going global: provides country-specific employment information. Swiss Re ...... 41 • Internships USA: provides information and resources to students seeking internships in the US. IFC = inside front cover OBC = outside back cover IBC = inside back cover ( ) = Display advertising

Tools to kick-start your career p. 7

And don’t forget– Go to gradireland.com for... • featured jobs and immediate vacancies • database of employers from all sectors • your personal gradireland careers report • news on the jobs market in Ireland.

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 3 UCD students are in demand

UCD STUDENTS ARE IN LEADING EMPLOYERS DEMAND RECRUIT AT UCD

ur to e – o p tip nc s f la or g c Use the UCD Career Development a Engage – Employers a selection processes. Employers get to meet t r A recruit students who make e Centre to find a job that suits you. with interested students and have the e a difference – why not try out r opportunity to sell the benefits of working for Class Rep, or become a s very year, the UCD Career with their organisation. u

Peer Mentor or Campus c

Development Centre coordinates For the 2013/14 academic year there c Ambassador. e

a large number of recruitment were five recruitment fairs held on the – Use opportunities s Connect s events designed to put employers Belfield campus representing many to build your network and directlyE into contact with UCD students, different disciplines. (See page 20 for a list meet employers at the allowing students to access employers of this years’ recruitment fairs including various campus events. who are of interest. Students gain an those held in the UCD Michael Smurfit opportunity to ask questions of the Graduate Business School). Recruitment employer and to enquire about possible fairs have always been very popular with employment opportunities as well as UCD students and last year we had an attendance of nearly 4,000 students Employability –Develop (representing an increase of 10% on the skills that will transfer to previous year’s attendance). the work environment by Furthermore, there were undertaking internships or approximately 100 employer work experience or one of presentations and workshops the programmes run by held on the Belfield campus, the UCD Career Development with many additional Centre. presentations held in the Academic – Aim for UCD Michael Smurfit minimum 2:1 Graduate Business School. Our advice: Keep an eye on our website throughout the year for a list of Check out our participating organisations recruitment and think about which events on employers you want to meet page 20. and what specifically you want to ask when you do meet them! Come prepared with intelligent questions and a CV highlighting your key skills and experience (see page 23 for further advice).

4 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers UCD students are in demand

RECRUITER VIEW Citi hires UCD graduates into both our internships and full time roles . Based on RECRUITER VIEW our experience we have The IBEC Export found the graduates to Orientation Programme be work-ready as the greatly value applications courses are practical from graduates of all and relevant to disciplines including Arts, industry . Agricultural Science, Business and Engineering. We match our Colin Moreland – TTS Head graduates with sponsor companies Ireland & Treasurer Citibank such as Apple, Glanbia and Tourism Europe Plc Ireland, who provide structured placements with training opportunities in Ireland and abroad, as well as the opportunity to gain further qualifications. Our participating sponsor companies look for graduate qualities such as adaptability, enthusiasm and good communication skills. A bit of ‘cop on’ goes a long way too!

David Broderick, EOP Manager, IBEC

RECRUITER VIEW One of our key success factors at Kerry Group is hiring graduates that will be our next generation of global leaders. Our Graduate Programme provides an accelerated path to leadership roles whilst working in an innovative, dynamic, energetic and global environment..

Laura Hamm, Graduate Recruitment Advisor Kerry EMEA

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 5 UCD students are in demand

THE UCD CAREER DEVELOPMENT ce CENTRE IS THE an gl a GATEWAY TO A t A Don’t miss our Career Fairs – BRIGHT FUTURE make contacts and follow them up. Picking up literature is all part of the process but getting an insight into the business through engaging Options & opportunities By ‘liking’ Facebook on our website and with company representatives for UCD students and graduates signing up to Twitter, graduates will will reap dividends. receive instant information on events and vacancies. Approaching employers he UCD Career Development directly is another way to access Centre provides opportunities for opportunities and enhance your network. students to make contact with a For advice on any aspect of graduate job wide range of graduate employers. seeking, make an appointment with a Attend employer TLast year, almost 300 employers Career & Skills Consultant via presentations on campus – participated in a UCD on-campus CareersConnect on our website this is another valuable recruitment event (from Recruitment www.ucd.ie/careers networking opportunity. Fairs to Employer Presentations). The graph below presents recent Presentations are where Thousands of graduate level vacancies destinations statistics for the graduating employers seek to connect were advertised through the UCD Career class of 2013. This reveals that of the with students who are Development Centre website as well as graduates surveyed 9 months after interested in their through our partner sites – graduation (73% response rate), 60% are company. www.gradireland.com & in employment, 29% are in further study www.prospects.ac.uk. UCD remains a and 8% are seeking employment (with popular university with employers who 3% not available for employment or are constantly seeking high-calibre study). This compares favourably to the students and graduates for both standardised unemployment rate of internship and graduate positions within 11.5% (July 2014) and the Whatever you want to do their organisations. unemployment rate for under 25s which with your future career, With a high level of competition for was 15.3% in July 2014. engage and work with us jobs, graduates must ensure that – we can help you to they are aware of relevant identify steps and opportunities. techniques to get that first job!

The Class of 2013 In employment In further study or training Seeking employment Not available for employment or study 3%

8%

29% 60%

6 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers UCD students are in demand

CONNECTING STUDENTS TO FUTURE CAREERS

Career tools at your finger-tips!

here’s now a massive amount of and most reliable resources to help you You can find links to all these resources career information online – some plan your career, research employers and on our website at www.ucd.ie/careers. great, and some not so great. We’re industry information, and find a job or There to point you towards the best internship. Vault A comprehensive online career resource designed to help you look into potential careers, research top employers and find out about trends in your industry.

Going Global Careers Connect Going Global provides country-specific career Psychometric tests and employment information, including UCD students automatically have an account on our worldwide internship and job postings and These are very useful in career planning, Careers Connect portal, and if you’ve graduated from career resources. helping you to understand more about your UCD you can register for an alumni account. Search our strengths and how these might shape your vacancy database, which has new jobs and internships career and personal choices. There are being posted by employers every day, and sign up for personality, learning styles and career alerts based on your preferences. You can also book for interests tests; as well as abstract, our recruitment fairs and employer presentations, so numerical and verbal reasoning tests, which you can meet the people you want to work for! are often used by employers.

Career Focus

Internships USA Provided by CEI Internships, a company that offers individually verified information and resources to students seeking internships in the US. There are two options: Internships for undergraduates; and Internships for law students.

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 7 UCD students are in demand

HOW CAN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE HELP YOU?

Modules in Personal and Professional Development

Recruitment Interactive Corporate Fairs and Commercial Study Getting Visits to City of London Connected One-to-one career advice and career CDC coaching Online CDC Facebook/ Resource Twitter/Web Employer presentations on Library internship and graduate jobs

Skills for Career Interests 'working life' Aptitude Tests Professional Type Dynamic Recognition Award Indicators Skills workshops/ lectures

STUDENT FEEDBACK

The UCD Career Development Centre After my very first engagement The Career Development Centre has given me invaluable help and advice with the Career Development Centre, was a huge help in securing my masters with preparation of my CV, covering letters I immediately had a more focused place. I was able to meet with their and scholarship applications. With their understanding of the options open to me. consultants and go through the entire guidance, I won three Agricultural Science I would highly recommend to any student to process step-by-step: from picking the scholarships, which funded my work engage with the centre early on in their time right programme for me, to nailing my placement in New Zealand. I also won an in University, as ultimately it was through application, to scholarships and funding. International Women in Aviation scholarship their advice, guidance and connections that With their help, I was able to secure a this year, which included a fully paid trip to I was successful in securing what has place and funding with my top choice Florida, to attend an aviation conference. It’s become my dream job. masters programme.. a fantastic service, free to all students and I cannot thank them enough for Graduate, MSc in International Final year student, their help. Management (2013) BSc Economics & Finance (2014) Final year Bachelor of Agricultural Science (2014)

8 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers Your Roadmap to Success

Engage DEVELOP Stand-Out

While a good degree is Get involved in all that UCD has to offer and build on your team work, essential, leadership and networking skills. By getting involved, you it is critical that you do more to distinguish yourself to will enjoy your time at UCD even more, will become self- employers. This is about what, aside from your academic reliant and self-confident and demonstrate to employers achievements can make you stand out from the crowd. you are the type of person who makes a difference- just what they are looking for!

You need to show recruiters you possess drive, Take a look at our roadmap to career success Career Development Centre resilience and determination to succeed. & get involved now at UCD. Explore your career options

BUILDING A POSITIVE ONLINE PRESENCE WITH

LINKEDIN is more relevant to an employer than simply – how they got involved in their field or ‘Currently studying for a Fashion BA at XYZ’, something specific about their profile or a past and makes you more likely to be found through project - most people like talking about searches of the site. themselves and are flattered when asked for advice. It is also worth messaging contacts 4. Make it easy for them to find you explaining what you are looking for, asking if Students and recent college • You need to think about how someone is likely they may know anyone relevant they could graduates are LinkedIn's to come across your profile – consider what introduce you to or just for general advice. recruiters are likely to search, and fit this into fastest-growing demographic your profile. Look through job descriptions of 8. Get involved in groups roles you want to pick up on the kind of • The more involved you are, the more your language and any words that they use, and visibility improves. A great feature of LinkedIn uilding a presence on LinkedIn pepper them throughout your profile; it will is ‘Groups’. Anyone can start a group, and in and knowing how to use it to improve your visibility, not to mention make most cases anyone can join. They exist on all secure your first job can give you you look like a great fit. number of things including industry specific, a fantastic advantage in making • Additionally, recommendations are a great way entry-level specific, job-type specific etc. Look theB process as easy as possible. Darain for students to showcase their skills and for ones in your preferred industry, (to gain a Faraz, Corporate Communications qualities to prospective employers. greater insight into it), and groups designed for Manager with LinkedIn in London, recent graduates and students. Some shares his top ten tips for students and 5. Show you’re REALLY interested companies post opportunities on these and it recent graduates. • LinkedIn offers ‘Content Channels’ is a great place to ask for advice. for different industries. Following a Channel 1. Make your LinkedIn profile as complete (e.g. My First Job, Online Advertising) will both 9. Look out for opportunities as possible show you have a genuine interest and help • When looking at any job posts on LinkedIn, • Completed profiles are seven times more likely keep you updated on any news and hot topics whether it is by searching through official job to be viewed with a photo on their profile. Not within the industry. Likewise, most companies posts or by following company pages and only will a complete profile make it easy for have ‘Pages’ on LinkedIn that they update with groups, remember to see if you have any employers to see that you are the type of any news or links to articles concerning their connections with the company or connections person they are looking for, but it also looks industry. Follow companies in your industry, in common. It is always worth sending them a more trustworthy. The same goes for adding a particularly ones you’d like to work for. message if you are thinking of applying, asking profile picture – it is easier to relate to for advice or even an introduction to someone someone when you can put a face to the 6. Build your network else within the company. Just make sure you’ve name...just keep it professional. • It’s an unwritten rule that 50 is the minimum done your research first, and ask insightful number of contacts needed for a successful questions – not ones you could easily google. 2. Make your experience work for you LinkedIn profile – but that’s no reason to give up • If you’re looking for your first job, chances are if you fall below the mark. Send requests to 10. Research, research, research you’ve little to no experience that is directly everyone you know on LinkedIn (including • LinkedIn provides you with a unique opportunity relevant; but that does not make the experience family, friends, past teachers etc.) and include a to research as much as you can about the people you do have invalid. Chances are you’ve used link to your LinkedIn page in your e-mail signature in a company before your interview. You can skills, such as time management, organisation, so people you are talking to can find you. Hold on even look for your interviewer. If nothing else, the team work and flexibility, in other areas – so to any business cards you are given – maybe at a interview could be far less daunting if you know highlight when you’ve used these ‘transferable careers fair – and try and find these contacts too. what the interviewer looks like before you go in. skills’ under past part-time jobs, volunteering or When requesting to connect, keep it personal Weird, but true. even extra-curricular activities. instead of the standard message LinkedIn can 3. Make the most of headlines send – it helps forge a relationship. In a nutshell... be proactive, and be brave. As with any job search, you have to put yourself • Your headline gives you the opportunity not 7. And use it just to sum up who you are but what you want, out there to get the most out of LinkedIn. • Once connected, begin building relationships Remember, it is designed to be a professional for e.g. ‘a mathematics undergraduate seeking with contacts by beginning a conversation. A a financial advisory internship for the summer’ networking tool – so no one will criticize you great way to do this is always to ask questions for using it as such.

UCD students visit LinkedIn Dublin, March 2014

10 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers Explore your career options

PLAN YOUR NEXT STEPS

Maybe you’re not sure what you should do after you leave college. Don’t panic – many students find themselves in this situation. Here’s a simple framework to help you figure out what you want to do and what to do next.

Know yourself What to do: Assess your: skills: what you are good at interests: what you enjoy doing values: what motivates you and would give meaning to your work personality type: your characteristics educational qualifications and work experience. Know your options Implement Resources to help: your decisions Online self-assessment tools: What to do: Profiling for success (psychometric tests) Find out what graduates in your What to do: www.ucd.ie/careers subject do Create an action plan with clear goals gradireland careers report Research company job descriptions and timelines gradireland.com/careers-report and information; explore job sectors Learn how to market yourself Prospect planner www.prospects.ac.uk. Investigate graduate study opportunities. Get help with job applications, CV Resources to help design, and how to do well at Use the bank of job profiles and interviews and assessment centres information in our resource room at the Get jobseeking advice. Make decisions UCD Career Development Centre Resources to help: Online job profiles at gradireland.com, Careers workshops on topics such as What to do: www.prospects.ac.uk, targetjobs.co.uk CVs, covering letters and interview Think about how you make your best and www.ucd.ie/careers/goingglobal or techniques – these are held on decisions: gut instinct alone, involving videos on www.careerplayer.com campus regularly others or methodically weighing up pros UCD Library electronic databases Books on CVs and covering letters in and cons e.g. Marketline and FAME the UCD Career Development Centre Identify ways to narrow your choices and On-campus events and presentations resource room finalise your preferences by employers and graduate Career insider Attend a Career Planning workshop at the programmes. Details are posted at www.ucd.ie/careers/careerinsider. UCD Career Development Centre. See www.ucd.ie/careers/events. www.ucd.ie/careers/events for scheduling information. Resources to help Discuss and evaluate your choices with a Career & Skills Consultant Book an appointment online at careersconnect.ucd.ie.

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K OR W M A LET YOUR E T EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU NAME Aoife Buckley DEGREE & STAGE BA Economics (2012) & MSc Management Consultancy (2014) EXPERIENCE Team leader for Enactus 2011/12 & 2013/14 Get involved & let your Enactus is a non-profit organisation that brings together student, academic and experience work for you! UCD team to represent Ireland at 2014 business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to niversity life is not all about Enactus World Cup Final with social improve the quality of life and standard of study – it’s also about getting entrepreneurship project. living for people in need. I got involved in involved, whether that is by Enactus UCD in 2012 when completing an joining clubs and societies: Clubs & societies elective on a project called ‘Innovation Africa’ givingU your time to volunteer on and off Join a club or society and do something in partnership with the Community Economic campus; keeping up with a part-time job, that you enjoy. Remember it’s not just Development Fund and I represented UCD in working during the holidays/undertaking about joining a club or society but about the national Irish competition in 2012 with the an internship; taking time to study abroad your contribution. If, you join, be an project. and more. active member and get involved. This may In September 2013 I returned to UCD to All of these are opportunities to show demonstrate your commitment and complete a masters in management employers that you are a well-rounded dedication and can be a good way to consultancy and once again got involved in individual AND have developed a range of demonstrate skills such as leadership or Enactus. The experience of being involved in Enactus has been fantastic. I took up the role additional skills. What’s more, these are teamworking. Check out the website for of team leader/project manager for our Project things that you can easily do and will enjoy information on UCD clubs and societies. ‘Generation Accommodation’. By being doing. So take the time during university to http://www.ucd.ie/studentcentre/studente involved in Enactus I have developed my get involved and participate in activities, xperience/ skills as a team leader and as a team member, exchanges or work experiences and I have also greatly improved my organisational whatever you do, make it work for you. Part-time work skills, communication skills and made some Working and studying demonstrates the valuable contacts in the business world. Volunteering ability to multitask and manage the Volunteering is a great way to gain work demands of your course as well as the Highlights There have been many highlights of being experience and develop your skills while demands of your job. It’s a way to earn actively involved in Enactus. First, I have at the same time make a meaningful money, and typical student jobs in retail made contacts with very passionate and contribution to a charitable organisation and hospitality can help you develop dedicated business people from our or in a capacity that’s important to you. skills in time management, teamwork and business advisory board and networking Have a look at UCD Volunteer Overseas customer service. events organised by Enactus Ireland. These www.ucdvo.org or UCD St Vincent de business leaders come from a range of Paul Society http://www.ucd.ie/svdp/o/ if Internships different businesses such as KPMG, you are interested in volunteering. – see our more detailed piece on Enterprise Rent a Car, AIG, KBC, IFG, Unilever, internships on pages 14 & 15 Arthur Cox, and many more. I have also met some very like-minded Work shadowing In hindsight, students who are interested in making a Observing someone’s typical working change in the world and helping people in completing an internship before day can be a good way to find out need. Enactus teaches us to use the skills we my final year was one of the best what a job entails and get experience have been taught in UCD and to apply them to decisions I made during university. It in a ‘popular’ area of work e.g. real-life situations, impacting as many people strengthened my CV with corporate work marketing/advertising, where as we can. Developing a social business experience, but more significantly, it gave me a opportunities can be hard to find initiative gives your CV that extra edge, and it’s also a brilliant topic to discuss at interview. different outlook on what I wanted to achieve during without experience. Why not try and organise one yourself? It will my final year. I returned to university feeling Advice for students demonstrate to future employers My advice to students would be to find what confident that I was choosing the right career path. that you have initiative and have you are passionate about and get involved In addition, I got to select modules that would a real interest in that career field. in that society / club / team in UCD. There stand to me in my career and was able to excel in Start by deciding who you want to are a wide range of opportunities in UCD in them by using skills I learned during my target, and use any contacts you areas of sport, music, arts and academia. It internship. have and make your approach e.g. by is never too late to get involved and it may drafting a letter explaining the just make you that well-rounded applicant that the HR departments are looking to hire Ryan McErlane, UCD University objective of the work shadowing. Come when you graduate. Action Team Lead, Accenture into the Career Development Centre for more advice and help.

12 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers Explore your career options

How you can develop your skills Find out more Develop the skills that employers want to see Planning & organising about volunteering: by getting involved in extra-curricular Arranging travel itineraries http://www.ucd.ie/careers/ activities, getting work experience and actively Managing competing demands on your http://www.activelink.ie/ participating in your programme! time – studies, part-time work and other http://www.volunteer.ie/ commitments Leadership http://www.ucdvo.org/ Organising fundraising or other events Chairing a student society or a committee http://camaraireland.ie/ Captaining a sports team Problem solving http://www.depaulireland.org/ Taking responsibility for organising an event Overcoming obstacles to achieve a https://www.focusireland.ie/ Being a team leader at work personal goal http://aiesec.ie/ Finding creative solutions to workplace https://www.svp.ie/ Initiative problems http://www.bodywhys.ie/ Writing your own blog Participating in student problem-solving http://www.niteline.ie/ Finding creative ways to raise funds as a competitions volunteer Participating in a student competition Commercial awareness Working overseas Keeping up to date with business papers Adaptability & Flexibility There are endless opportunities to work and magazines Combining study and part-time work abroad which provide opportunities to Joining relevant student societies e.g. Travelling or studying abroad independently develop language skills and demonstrate Investors & Entrepreneurs Society Managing multiple extra-curricular activities maturity and adaptability. Learning about the business in your part- Teamwork time job Certificate in skills for working life Actively participating in student projects Commitment to a team-based sporting Oral Communication The UCD Career Development Centre Giving presentations as part of your course activity offers the opportunity for students at all Becoming a Peer Mentor Ability to work with others successfully in levels to develop the skills sought by Running a meeting or event your part-time job graduate employers through participation Dealing with customers via your in our Skills for Working Life series. part-time work Students receive a certificate (non-credit bearing) upon completion of the programme.

NG ERI TE N U L O

V

NAME Kate O’Donnell DEGREE & STAGE BA International History and Politics (3rd year). Currently on Erasmus in Lund, Sweden During my first year in UCD, I became involved in UCD Volunteers Overseas (UCDVO), UCD St Vincent De Paul (SVP) and Relay for Life UCD. I My advice was a volunteer on the 2012 and 2013 Tanzania of sustainability in developing countries. This has If you have an interest in a particular field or just UCDVO projects and I was a volunteer for UCD SVP been a valuable lesson to learn and will influence want to push yourself outside your comfort in a homeless shelter, in youth clubs and as UCD my future decisions around my career choices. zone, there is a wide range of volunteering SVP Activities Officer. I have always been One of the most important things anyone learns opportunities inside and outside UCD. Volunteering interested in the area of global development and from volunteering is the importance of teamwork is a great way to try to do something which local community development and by and communications. You meet a wide range of makes a difference, and to learn about what your volunteering with these organisations I got the people and learn to effectively set goals and work own strengths and weaknesses are. UCD SVP, chance to learn about this field at first hand. to achieve them. Volunteer organisations are very UCDVO and Relay for Life are always looking for Benefits open to new ideas, so it can be a great way to get new volunteers; it will no doubt improve your My experience has taught me a lot about the need involved in a campaign or a project that UCD experience and influence your future career for organisational skills and about the importance interests you. choices and opportunities.

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RAVEL & T INTERNSHIPS: TY IE R A STEPPING STONE A TO SECURING THE V GRADUATE JOB YOU WANT NAME Brian Liston DEGREE BSc Economics & Finance (3rd year) INTERNSHIP Skype, Luxembourg (10 months) I’ve always had a strong interest in the A key factor in achieving your school before making contact with any Skype product, so I jumped at the career ambitions is gaining companies; there may be specific opportunity to work alongside the team that programme requirements relating to developed it, when I saw the position experience through an internship, internships that you need to know about. advertised in the Lochlann Quinn School of so when will you start looking? The UCD Career Development Centre Business. I believe that my passion and can help you to identify companies that eagerness for both the company and you are interested in applying for and industry came across in my interview in a Is there a difference between a work provide assistance with your applications. way that made it clear that I would be well placement and an internship? suited for the role. Not really. Work placements and What opportunities are there on campus Over the course of the internship, I was internships are effectively the same thing. to meet with companies or organisations? given the chance to work with various teams The terms are loosely applied to any • Skills Workshops/Internship on a range of projects, which highlighted formal, structured work experience. A Recruitment Presentations – Hundreds many aspects of the business. This end-to- end exposure enabled me to see how my own company will sometimes offer internships of companies are on campus during role fitted into the larger picture. Experience specifically for students, and there may be the year. Use the opportunity to learn working in other areas was a great way to separate internship programmes for about the company first hand, to expand my network and open my eyes to new graduates. The company may use network and to ask about internship opportunities. different terms to describe these, so check possibilities. Register with the Career any information provided before applying Development Centre to receive notices Highlights: or making contact. of visits and events in advance by The internship was hugely beneficial in visiting our website and login with bridging the gap between academic Why do an Internship? your UCD Connect details and follow understanding and the work I’ll be doing in Doing an internship is a great opportunity us on Facebook & Twitter. the future. The projects I worked on made it clear how the subjects I study transfer into to enhance your CV and make you ‘stand • Volunteering & Internships Fair. Each the business world. It was an eye-opening out from the crowd’ when it comes to year in February, the UCD Career experience that pushed me to become as getting your graduate-level job. knowledgeable as possible in my area of Some students have an opportunity to study. undertake an internship as part of their The level of responsibility I was given programme of study to complement their meant that from early on, I was able to lead studies and enable them to develop several of my own initiatives. I had to quickly relevant skills. develop strong leadership, teamwork and It’s also a great way to try something At Deloitte, we time management skills to efficiently and out before making a longer term encourage applications effectively produce the desired results. commitment to a specific career area, as Brian’s top tips for students: well as an opportunity to develop your from all degree disciplines and offer over 120 opportunities each year Apply to what you truly are interested in. Do network, which can prove invaluable your research, know the industry, and be when job-hunting. through our summer internship specific in your application. I was involved in programme or university work the recruitment of my replacement, and it Finding your internship placement programmes. We look for became clear to me how many people use If you don’t already have the option to the same covering letter for many different pursue an internship via your well-rounded individuals who are applications – don’t, instead make sure your programme, you can passionate about making an impact applications are targeted and bespoke. • apply for advertised internships (for every day through meaningful value- The UCD Career Development Centre is example via graduate job search sites added work. We see an abundance of there to ensure that students are given as or university notice boards) or much support as possible in applying to • make speculative applications, i.e. the key skills and qualities that we potential internship programmes. I would send a tailored CV and cover letter, to look for at Deloitte in UCD students, recommend making best use of this resource companies that you are interested in. such as leadership, creativity, by attending skills workshops, various company recruitment presentations, and Many students have been successful in problem-solving, commercial securing internships by approaching Recruitment Fairs to network and connect companies directly. awareness and much more! with people from industry and commerce. If undertaking an internship as part of Rose Mary Hogan, your programme of study, talk to your Resourcing Manager, Deloitte

14 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers Explore your career options

Development Centre hosts a students who work or have worked in Volunteering and Internships Fair. A some of your target companies? wide range of organisations from sites How do I get the most from eb across a variety of sectors take part. l w This is a great opportunity to find out my internship? fu e more about the exciting opportunities • Be clear about what you want to get s on offer and to network with from your internship U careersconnect.ucd.ie employers. • Be flexible and seek out opportunities (UCD Career Development to do new things Centre online vacancies Top tips for finding an internship • Have realistic expectations portal) • Start early – competition can be fierce • Don’t be afraid to ask questions www.gradireland.com (internship opportunities at so you should start looking in • Get feedback major Irish and multinational semester 1. • Follow up. organisations) • Do your research – use all of the resources available to you to identify major employers in your area of interest. You have nothing to lose by Recruiters have confirmed making an application, so don’t be that a record 37% of this year’s entry- afraid to think big. level positions are expected to be filled • Be persistent – you may need to www.leargas.ie/iaeste submit many applications before you by graduates who have already (international internship are successful. worked for their organisations – either opportunities for science and • Use your network – do you have any through paid internships, industrial engineering students) contacts who might be able to help placements or vacation work – and www.aiesec.ie (international you in your search? Can you find out student society providing a wide if there are any current or former therefore are not open to other range of internship opportunities) students from the ‘Class of 2014’. www.europeanmovement.ie (european internship NSIGHTS The Graduate Market in 2014, G I opportunities) IN High Fliers Research IN A G One of the best things about IAESTE is the people you meet from all over the world. I was lucky enough to make some close friends from places as far afield as USA, India, Lebanon and www.idaireland.com Australia. (useful company search NAME Jonathan Towers I enhanced my self-confidence and self- function for identifying DEGREE BE Civil Engineering (2014) reliance as well as developing my organisations in a particular INTERNSHIP hydrophil iC, Vienna, Austria communication, teamwork and problem-solving sector) (9 weeks) as part of the IAESTE (The skills. The experience of an internship, www.prospects.ac.uk International Association for the Exchange of particularly overseas, really helps enhance a CV (internship opportunities at Students for Technical Experience) Programme and is a real talking point at job interviews. major UK and multinational I first came across IAESTE at the annual Science, Jonathan’s top tips: organisations) Engineering and Technology Careers Fair I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of my IAESTE organised by the UCD Career Development placement and would highly recommend Centre. From engaging with representatives at everyone to undertake an internship if at all the fair, and through follow-up research, I possible. So if you love travelling, meeting new decided to apply for a position on the people and wish to enhance your CV by gaining programme as it provided an excellent Volunteering & relevant international work experience then go opportunity to live abroad whilst gaining for it, whether through IAESTE or another Internships Fair valuable work experience in my chosen field. provider. The staff at the UCD Career Every year in February, the UCD Career Highlights: Development Centre can help you plan your Development Centre hosts a Volunteering During my traineeship, I got a great insight into time and access internship opportunities. and Internships Fair. the working environment within an engineering Attend events organised by the UCD Career A wide range of consultancy firm and provided support to the Development Centre and use career advisory organisations from consultants across a variety of projects, ranging services for any applications you may be across a variety of from hydropower plants in Uganda, to water undertaking – be it internships, graduate jobs sectors take part. development projects in Vietnam. or even part-time work. The Career & Skills This is a great A further highlight of undertaking an IAESTE Consultants really know what they are talking opportunity to find traineeship is the opportunity to travel at about and provide extremely insightful out about the weekends. The fact that I was based in Central feedback on CVs, covering letters and exciting Europe meant I could easily travel to neighbouring application forms, which help you stand out opportunities on countries and take part in a number of the from the crowd and gain the attention of your offer and network organised IAESTE weekends, which took me to desired employer. with employers. cities such as Berlin, Budapest and Zurich.

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GOING GLOBAL

INTERNATIONALISE ce YOUR CV an gl a t A Check ucd.ie/careers website for details of opportunities targeting UCD students and graduates. Stay up to date with graduate vacancies and application Get international experience by experience, employers will welcome an international deadlines by following us on studying and working abroad or dimension to your CV. You’ll gain a new Twitter and Facebook. pursue international opportunities perspective, demonstrate independence and when you graduate. adaptability, develop your language skills and gradireland.com is also increase your self-confidence! worth checking out for the If you are thinking about an latest news on graduate hatever programme you are international career, experience opportunities pursuing in college, there are of volunteering, studying Speak to an adviser to find out opportunities for you to gain or working abroad more about overseas graduate international experience either will help you stand opportunities. asW part of your course or by taking time out from the For overseas opportunities – out. crowd. access Going Global on our website What do employers think? As long as you make the most of your International Office: The time abroad by gaining relevant skills and International Office in UCD provides lots of information for students on working and studying abroad via volunteering CAREERS IN THE EU and exchange opportunities both An EU career offers the within Europe (Erasmus) and chance to work in one of the outside of Europe. See the world’s most vibrant multilingual website for more information environments and play a role in www.ucd.ie/international/ designing policies that affect the lives of going-abroad-with-ucd/ more than 500 million citizens. UCD graduates are highly sought after in Brussels, particularly those with language skills. In fact, the most senior official within the EU, Secretary General of the European Commission, Catherine Day, is a UCD graduate. Going Global If you'd like to follow in her footsteps, why not speak UCD students can now have access to Going Global, to UCD Career Development Centre or get in touch www.ucd.ie/careers/goinglobal, which provides country- directly with my Department's EU Jobs team by specific career and employment information, including emailing [email protected]. worldwide internship and job postings and career resources. Access to Going Global is restricted to UCD Paschal Donohoe, TD, Former students and graduates and is password protected. Minister for European Affairs. Please email [email protected] with your name and student number requesting the login deta ils.

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IN BEIJI RS NG TE S E M

E

RK S & WO ING G IN IN T tes Y H bsi D E e U w U l T

S u S f e NAME Gillian Bryan s UK DEGREE & STAGE BComm and Chinese U gradireland.com (2014). Two semesters - Renmin University www.nijobs.ie and Peking University in Beijing, China www.targetjobs.co.uk (2012–2013) NAME Donal Finegan www.prospects.ac.uk DEGREE & STAGE BE, Chemical, Bioprocess Studied intensive Mandarin Chinese for one Engineering (2013). Currently a PhD semester. Studied Commerce in the second PhD students student in Chemical Engineering at semester, choosing which modules I wanted www.jobs.ac.uk University College London to take. Class hours were relatively short, www.phdjobs.com In Stage 3 of Chemical and Bioprocess leaving time for extra study and travelling. Engineering , supported by the Pat McAdam During my time in Beijing I gained a greater scholarship, I spent the summer of 2011 understanding of Chinese culture, and made taking part in a research experience for friends (and future business contacts!) with undergraduates program (REU) at the students from many countries. I had the chance Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado. to improve my language skills every single day. Overseas Thereafter, I continued to spend stage 3 of my Highlights www.iaeste.org degree at the University of California, Santa Raving on the Great Wall at David Guetta’s www.gradmalaysia.com Barbara (UCSB). The academic and social concert, and meeting my favourite Chinese www.gradsingapore.com aspects of both the Colorado School of Mines singer there! My Mandarin level dramatically www.eujobs.ie and UCSB were immensely different from improved after my year abroad, more than I www.jetprogramme.org anything experienced in UCD. For example, imagined possible. www.epik.go.kr the location of the UCSB campus was entirely www.lawcareers.net unique; on one side, the campus was Advice for other students: www.ibec.ie surrounded by white sandy beaches, and on Searching for accommodation can be difficult. www.enterprise-ireland.com the other were mountains along the San Have a precise list of everything you need in www.linkedin.com Andreas Fault. The combination of world-class Chinese when viewing apartments. You’ll be www.aiesec.ie academics and the adventure beckoning shown the good, the bad and the ugly. Stick landscape gave rise to a unique student your neck out and make Chinese friends. It’s lifestyle composed of an enjoyable mix of easy to hang out with the other international adventure and study. students, but try not to do that all the time. After finishing in UCSB, I continued to Before going, ask Chinese friends and your International Graduate spend summer of 2012 working for Merck, a Chinese teachers about products which won’t pharmaceutical company based in New be available in China. For example, I couldn’t Programmes Jersey. Here I got to use some of the core find sun block to suit my pale skin. For graduates looking for experience in Europe skills learned during the Chemical and A year abroad is a once in a lifetime or further afield who have a second language, Bioprocess Engineering degree. The mix of experience that I would recommend to there are great opportunities with Irish industrial and research experience abroad everyone. It looks wonderful on a CV. businesses involved in export or business proved invaluable when I started my final Employers are always looking for candidates overseas, throu gh direct employment year research and design thesies in UCD. who’ve travelled extensively and have a opportunities or more structured graduate knowledge of foreign cultures. programmes. Many of these organisations are Highlight: Make use of the Career Development Centre Experiencing life as a student in other parts of eager to meet students on-campus and from your first year in UCD. Start preparing regularly deliver informative workshops on the world was a fantastic experience. I have no your CV and looking into internships and doubt that my time spent abroad has shaped their application process and the international summer work experiences. Don’t wait until the dimension to their business. my current and future career. I got a taste of final year panic sets in before contacting them. several different potential career paths which Enterprise Ireland’s two-year International I’d also recommend the Skills for Working Life Graduate Programme offers graduates the shaped my career decisions during my final module offered by the Career Development year. I decided to pursue a research career and opportunity to start their career with a fast- Centre. The advice provided is practical and track international perspective. Checkout started a PhD in University College London presentations are done by industry (UCL) soon after I graduated. www.enterprise-ireland.com and the IBEC professionals from companies such as Deloitte. Export Or ientation Programme (EOP) which Advice for students: links exporting companies to recent The opportunities are there for everyone and graduates. Go towww.ibec.ie and go to About I strongly encourage anyone to avail of these Us to access the Career Opportunities and set in motion their own life-changing section for details of the programme. experience. The UCD Career Development For those graduates with fluency in Irish or Centre and the International Office are there a second European language, opportunities to help and guide students and these are are available with various European perfect places to start asking questions. institutions at www.europa.eu/epso.

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WORKING ABROAD

Two UCD graduate students talk about their experiences working abroad and offer some advice to current students.

I frequently travel to countries like Get involved – volunteer in societies, charities Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. It is brilliant and mix with international students to learn to work across so many markets as each is about different cultures. When I was in UCD so different and I have learned to alter my way I volunteered in the International Buddy of doing business to suit the country I am Programme which allowed me to meet students selling into. from across the world and build a great network This is a fantastic graduate programme, no of international friends. Being able to network is day is the same as the next, which I love. My essential in today’s business and employers look daily job is made up of business development, at your proven ability to make contacts, so bear marketing, account management, advisory, this in mind when working on projects. NAME Aine Kinsella event management and project management. Visit relevant trade shows. Speak with DEGREE & STAGE MSc in Management companies showcasing at trade shows as they Consultancy 2010, Michael Smurfit Graduate Advice for current students: will be able to give you information about their School of Business Bachelor of Commerce company, advise you on the industry, and could 2009, UCD Internationalise your CV – it can be extremely competitive to get into international programmes become valuable contacts when applying for I have been based in South-East Asia for 3 years so apply for the erasmus programmes, study jobs. with Enterprise Ireland (EI), living in both Kuala another language, secure internships in Don’t just focus on the typical markets like Lumpur and Singapore during this time. I work international companies. The more experience American and Europe - Asia is one of the most with EI companies to increase their exports by and international exposure you have in exciting places to work in right now. The growth, entering into new markets and growing existing university, the more of a competitive advantage development and opportunities out here are business in the Association of South-East Asian you will have when applying for jobs. incredible. Nations (ASEAN).

the City. Through research and networking, it Top tips became apparent that the Government Legal • Always make good use of the Career Service (GLS) had a reputation for providing work Development Centre – staff are experts who that is intellectually challenging and gives will help you manage your career. trainees responsibility from the start. When • Consider you career options early and get combined with the importance of having a good experience, for example a summer work-life balance, my career decision was made. placement at the Government Legal Service. With around 2,000 lawyers working in legal • Get involved in opportunities which will build teams across 30 UK Departments of State, the skills and competencies recruiters are regulatory bodies and other government looking for, for example through probono NAME Sarah Henderson organisations, GLS lawyers advise ministers and work or getting involved in the running of DEGREE BCL (International) Law, UCD 2009 officials of their powers and responsibilities, clubs or societies at university. Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, litigate on their behalf and ensure that official Manchester 2011 • Attend the Law Recruitment Fair on 8 decisions comply with the law. To date, working October 2014 having done your research in I work as a solicitor for the UK Department of with the Department, I have been involved in: advance and ask as many questions as you Transport. I knew I wanted to move into a assisting in a coroner’s inquest into a fatal air can – don’t just pick up the brochures! Build challenging career that made a real difference accident, advising on the use of armed guards on a network of contacts who may help you to the lives of everyday people. At university UK ships and matters relating to piracy off the when it comes to preparing for interviews I enjoyed studying public law, human rights, coast of Somalia, qualifying as a solicitor in the and making the move away from home. EU and international law and through my career Driver and Roads Agency where I provide advice research, it became apparent that working as a on the transposition of EU law and the solicitor for the government suited me better Department’s response to EU infraction cases. All than private general practice, or working for one in all, my working life is diverse, interesting and of the larger commercial and corporate firms in meaningful.

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NETWORKING FOR SUCCESS r diary you for es at D The calendar on the next page highlights some of the key recruitment Make the most of opportunities events in semester 1 and 2, specifically the to meet with employers recruitment fairs organised by the UCD Career Development Centre. This is not an exhaustive list of events. There will be numerous other recruitment he UCD Career Development presentations and networking events taking place on Centre organises and hosts a wide and off campus. For up-to-date information on what’s range of recruitment fairs and on, keep a regular eye on the ‘Events’ section of our employer presentations website; www.ucd.ie/careers. You can also ‘like’ Tthroughout the academic year, which are us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to beneficial to students at all stages of their receive regular updates on recruitment events that are taking place. studies. These events are an excellent opportunity to meet and develop links with potential employers. The key to making the most of these opportunities is to be proactive and network with potential employers. However, effective networking is about developing relationships with others for mutual advantage. In your case this may lead to you securing employment or an internship, and for an employer these events enable them to secure graduate talent to add value to their workplace. By taking advantage of on-campus recruitment events from the first year of academic studies, students can build a more extensive network of contacts, make informed decisions about the career pathway they would like to follow, and capitalise on opportunities that are presented. So, how can students use these events effectively? • Dress for success Top tips for successful networking Present yourself effectively by at recruitment fairs and employer demonstrating self-confidence and for advice when making applications presentations: enthusiasm. and preparing for interview, but be • Do your research in advance • Speak up! careful not to contact them too much Prior to the event, research the This is your opportunity to speak as this may work against you. companies taking part to find out directly to graduate recruiters. more about their business and the Networking for success is about you sector in which they operate. Doing taking the initiative. Be open, friendly, your homework on companies and prepared to talk about what you Job Search attending will enable you to target have to offer. Bring some copies of those that are of particular interest to your CV with you, as a recruiter may Websites in Ireland you. Be realistic, highlight roles you ask you for it. www.activelink.ie are aware of that fit with your • Build relationships and follow up www.gradireland.com qualifications, skills and experience Collect the business cards of the www.irishjobs.ie but remain flexible and show employers that you meet. Afterwards, www.irishtimes.com/ willingness to consider other roles email them and thank them for their www.jobs.ie that the recruiter may think are a time. From time to time, you may www.linkedin.com good match for you. wish to contact them for updates on www.recruitireland.com the business, positions available and www.ucd.ie/careers

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One of the most important aspects of the trip was the opportunity for networking with some of the top people in The trip the respective firms, an opportunity I would really helped me make decisions never have got otherwise. It was such a great concerning my career. It was great to experience to listen to top professionals talk get to see the firms from the inside rather about their day-to-day jobs and their background. than just scrolling through their respective It was fantastic to see former websites. Seeing the work they do and speaking UCD students like ourselves, who had gone to to various people who work there was a great London and managed to be very successful in opportunity to understand the culture of the firms some of the biggest companies in the world. and I really get a feel as to whether or not I could imagine myself working there. It also gave me a better understanding of what the firms Economics and Finance look for in relation to applications. student, 2014 Law student, 2014

London Study Visits There are many events organised by the UCD Career Development Centre including the Key recruitment events in 2014/15 Corporate Finance and Consulting London Study Visit & th e Corporate and Commercial La w London Study Visit, typically for pre-final year Event Target audience Date students. Students get theopportunity to networ k with Professional Services Blackrock Campus Tuesday recruiters and employees in large firms inthe – Audit, Tax students only 7 October 2014 City of London – to ex perien ce the work ofCity & Consulting Main Foyer financial institutions, investment banks Blackrock Campus consultancies and legal firms first hand. The week-long tr ip provdes i engaging learningand networking opportunities forstudents, who learn Business, Finance Students from any discipline Tuesday abou t application processes and how to pr epare & Management interested in a career in 30 September 2014 for interv iews and assess ment centres, as well Recruitment Fair business, finance or consulting O'Reilly Hall as a chance to ex perien ce whatit’s like to work in Belfield Campus a large City firm. In March 2014, the Corporate Finance and Consulting tr ip included visits to meet Science, Engineering Students from science, Wednesday representatives from Morgan Stanley, ICAP and & Technology Recruitment engineering and computer 1 October 2014 Blackrock Investments. The Corporate and Fair science O'Reilly Hall Commercial Law tr ip included visits to Allen & Belfield Campus Overy, Clyde & Co, and Slaughter and May. General Business, Blackrock Campus Friday Management students only 10 October 2014 & Finance Restaurant Blackrock Campus

Law Recruitment Fair Students from any Wednesday discipline interested 8 October 2014 in a legal career Astra Hall, Student Centre Belfield Campus

Internships & Volunteering All students Tuesday Recruitment Fair 3 February 2015 Astra Hall, Student Centre Belfield campus

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THINK! BUSINESS START-UP Do you have a great idea or have you spotted a gap in the market but are not quite sure how to get it off the ground? We talk to Donal McSharry, whose fun business concept, Funky Christmas Jumpers, has been a huge success to date.

id you know that there are lots ambitious about who of supports available to help we targeted. I never budding entrepreneurs? So, take directly targeted the that first step and start looking ‘star’ as such, but I Dat how you can set up your own business. always approached Before you start, be inspired by someone who was close Donal McSharry’s story. Donal is a to them, for example a 2011 UCD graduate (MSc Marketing publicist or a stylist. It’s Practice, Michael Smurfit Graduate serendipity – it’s spontaneous School of Business) who started a enough… you never know if your business whilst still a student in DIT. product is going to land, but if it does it’s Donal founded his festive business brilliant. The One Direction guys were venture, Funky Christmas Jumpers with great. I was down with Niall Horan in his his business partner, over five years ago. house in Mullingar when he was home at His funky jumpers have been spotted on Christmas. celebrities such as Rita Ora, Rory He tweeted out to 17 million people: McIlroy (pictured right) and Niall Horan "Cheers to @DonalMcSharry & @fabmol from One Direction and Ryan Tubridy on entrepreneurs. I’ve been inspired by people from @Xmasjumpers, for coming down the Late Late Toy Show. Donal answered who started off with nothing, or started and kitting us out #FeelingFestive” which some of our questions on what it is to be off with a small idea and decided to go was fantastic for our business. a young entrepreneur. against the conventional 9-5 way of life. Q: Is there any advice you would give to Q: How did you come up with the idea? Q: What is it like being your own boss? people starting out or wanting to set up D: Myself and a friend went along to a D: I enjoy the freedom to be my own boss, their own business? Christmas-themed party without the to make my own decisions, to learn from D: Take a risk in some ways. If you have a obligatory Christmas jumpers and we my own mistakes, and I enjoy being able general hunch and you think there’s thought there was a definite gap in the to work around my own schedule. Being something you enjoy, I would say to try it market for a specialist Christmas jumper young and being a student allowed me to for 6 months. If it doesn’t work out, you company once we saw how much fun travel a lot with my business. As my can always apply for graduate programmes people wearing jumpers were having. The business is seasonal, I also have a part- or a graduate job the following year. following season we decided to trial the time job to keep me in the off-season. idea and all our jumpers sold out. Since Where to start then Funky Christmas Jumpers has Q: What would you say are the Learn about what’s available. For aspiring grown bigger and bigger every year. challenges (if any) you have had? entrepreneurs, there is a wealth of helpful Fast forward to the present day and we D: The general management of finances resources just a few clicks away: ship to 55 countries internationally. was a challenge but I just adapted and • NovaUCD: We’ve three different online sales read up on it. I developed that skill https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/ channels which are: myself. Also, when this whole social • Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: www.funkychristmasjumpers.com, media craze appeared in 2009/2010 we www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu www.funkychristmasjumpers.co.uk for had to learn and adapt and we had an • Business Access to State Information the UK market and www.funkychristmas opportunity to capitalise on that. We and Services: www.basis.ie jumpers.com for the US market. In 2013, actually won two awards last year. They • Enterprise Ireland: www.enterprise- we had two wholesale contracts with were ‘Best SME in Ireland using Digital’ ireland.com Arnotts and Avoca. We opened two and ‘Best Online PR Campaign’ at the • Inter Trade Ireland: different pop-up stores in Dublin City Bord Gais Energy Awards. I would have www.intertradeireland.com Centre as well. loved to have capitalised on this earlier • J4b (information on grants/funding but we have made up for lost time now. available for business and start-ups: Q: What do you think are the key skills www.j4bgrants.ie and attributes that you possess which Q: How did you get celebrities to wear • Irish Investment Network: have contributed to your success as an your product? www.irishinvestmentnetwork.ie entrepreneur? D: We thought that celebrity • For more information on D: Being ambitious, and a risk-taker. I’ve endorsements were really key to the entrepreneurship check out your always read autobiographies about success of our product so we were bank’s business start-up web pages,

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which are good for advice. Enter a student • Another useful site competition: A is https://www.smallbusinesscan.com/, great way to a community for small businesses and develop skills and entrepreneurs. stand out from the • Irish Student Entrepreneurship Forum: crowd! www.isef.ie Graduate • www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/ employers seek out • Check out your local area ‘top talent’ by partnerships, and for premises, local organising Enterprise Centres, which are excellent competitions which for networking opportunities and engage students in supports projects and provide an UCD’s Ciara Browne (left), who finished in third place at the 2014 Contact your local Enterprise Board: opportunity to gradireland National Student Challenge. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County showcase skills and Enterprise Board (DLRCEB) is your abilities. Student competitions can also • Deloitte’s Top Technology Talent ‘local’ enterprise board if you are a UCD help you to enhance your CV, develop Competition student. The Board works with aspiring and demonstrate your skills to a potential • EY Entrepreneurs of the Future entrepreneurs and provides future employer, allow you to perform a Keep yourself informed on upcoming complimentary supports which can help ‘test run’ in an assessment centre and competitions by visiting our online you to acquire new skills, access specialist provide opportunities to network with blog/newsletter: advice and receive training. See more employers or to win a prize or an http://ucdblogs.org/careers/ information at www.drlceb.ie. internship. UCD student Ciara Browne tells us There are many annual competitions about her experience of the gradireland particularly popular with students which National Student Challenge include: (www.challenge.gradireland.com) below. • gradireland National Student Ciara came in third place overall (for the Challenge second year running!) and is pictured on AL STUD the left hand side along with the other ON EN TI T A C winners. N H D A N L

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A overseen by a major employer. We had to plan communication and business acumen -

R G a delivery route for Lidl, assess investment interpersonal traits and skills which can’t be options for PWC and design a product launch quantified using regular exams or assignments. NAME Ciara Browne for Jameson. Creativity was tested in the I think this kind of event is a good way to prove JOB BAFS (Bachelor of Actuarial inventing task set by SAP, boardroom debating your ‘soft skills’ in front of real employers. Even if and Financial Studies) (3rd year) was the challenge from EY and Boston you were not interested in working with one of Scientific’s challenge involved efficiency and the employers directly involved in the My experience quality control on a mock production line. competition, having this on your CV certainly I heard about the gradireland National Student gives you an edge in future job applications. Challenge from a friend. I enjoy problem-solving Networking opportunities and puzzles so I thought it was worth giving it After six challenges, everyone was mentally My advice a go. To qualify, you must complete online and physically drained and we proceeded to My advice for anyone competing next year would be exercises which require processing have a few well deserved nibbles at the to be yourself and don’t be shy about expressing information both accurately and quickly. networking session. This was an informal your ideas. Use the opportunity to network and get Similar exercises are being used by employers chance to chat to the employers and fellow contacts within the companies you are interested to assess candidates, so completing an entry participants, gaining more insight into the in. Remember you will be introduced to the gives an insight into what employers look for. I various professions represented and the employers as one of the top sixty brightest students qualified for the final by placing in the top sixty opportunities available at each firm. This part in Ireland, so they should want to talk to you. students who took the online challenge. of the day was just as valuable as the Taking part in a student competition is a great The final day was a lot more hands-on and competitive sessions in that I got to speak to way to develop and showcase such skills outside took place in the Quinn School here in UCD. people who already work in the areas I would the exam hall. I really enjoyed my experience at Students from colleges all around Ireland took like to get into after college. the National Student Challenge and going home part and we were randomly assigned to teams with the third place prize was a wonderful bonus of ten. As a team we tackled a variety of at the end of a rewarding day.

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CVs THAT HIT THE MARK

USE YOUR (AND ONE THAT CV TO MARKET YOURSELF DOESN’T) EFFECTIVELY AND MAXIMISE YOUR CHANCES OF use for my CV? SUCCESS ld I ou sh at There can be conflicting advice on how a CV should look and rm o the truth is there is no one format or hen applying for a job you Check out www.ucd.ie/careers f t approach that will work for all applications. need to connect your • Have your draft CV reviewed by a h While the most common format is the traditional education, skills and a Career & Skills Consultant. W chronological CV, there are other kinds, such as the experiences to the employer’s • Online resources can be skills-based and academic CV, which may be more requirements.W Employers use different found at: suitable depending on your experience or chosen career methods of application. Some have online – www.ucd.ie/careers pathway. Accepted formats also differ from country to application forms while others will ask – www.gradireland.com country. By researching the company, making use of you to submit a CV and cover letter. – www.prospects.ac.uk your contacts and consulting a Career & Skills Make sure that you comply with their – www.targetjobs.co.uk Consultant, you can find out what the optimal format preferred method, and whatever the is for your application. The key to writing a strong format, market yourself effectively. If CV is being aware of your unique selling points your application doesn’t hit the mark you and communicating them effectively, so will not get an interview, so you need to using a CV template is not a good articulate why you are the best person for idea. the job and what makes you stand out from other candidates. In your application you will need to present specific information about yourself that illustrates how you match up to the employer’s criteria. In Ireland, most employers accept a CV and cover letter in response to an advertised position or as a speculative application. Getting your CV into shape is a key task if you are planning to apply for graduate jobs, internships, or even part-time work. In this section you will find information on how to structure your CV and what sort of information to put into it.

At a glance There are a number of other resources available to you, for example: • Attend a CV workshop run by the UCD Career Development Centre.

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And here's how not to do it...

Unfortunately people get it wrong often and employers see all kinds of CV blunders. Making a silly mistake or writing something inappropriate is the quickest way to get your CV When it comes to font the best option is to keep it simple. Use thrown in the bin. Josephine Bloggs has not been having much Times New Roman, Arial or similar. Avoid ‘Word Art’, coloured success with her graduate job applications and when you look at fonts and decorative effects – you want the recruiter to focus her CV you can see why… on the content of your CV, not be distracted by the formatting.

Writin g 'Curricu lum Vitae' at the top of your CV in unnecessary. The personal details section of Your name shou ld be the title. your CV shou ld contain contact Curriculum Vitae details on ly. You do not need to JOSEPHINE BLOGGS include details of gender, date of birth or marital status. ERSONAL DETAILS Dublin 4 P ent Residences, UCD, Belfield, Address: 32 Glenomena Stud DOB: 12/ 01/1993 Make sure you use a Gender: Female Marital status:Single professional- 086 8875412 Teleph one: mail.com sounding email Email address: drunkenmunkey@hot nging career dent. I am seeking a challe address. An employer Career Objective itious and driven Science stu dedicated, enthusiastic, amb to offer personally and I am a hard-working, to any company I join as I have a lot is unlikely to hire a try. I would be a huge asset in a stimulating indus isation for the better. Josephine has lef t ou t a lot of relevant . I know I can change your organ ‘drunken munkey ’! professionally information abou t her degree. She

Education could include relevant modules, her University College Dublin 2011-2014 grades, or her ex pected grade at Bachelor of Science graduation and details of any thes is or rim, Co. Meath 2004-2011 (B3) Ordinary Level – Career objectives can on Community School, T ench (B1), Maths (A2), Physics Ballymah English (B3), Irish (B1), Fr group projects that she has completed. be helpful bu t it can Leaving Certificate: Higher Level – Chemistry (A1) y (C), Business studies (B), be qu ite difficult to ch (A), History (C), Geograph Level – English (A), Maths (B), Fren write a good one. This Junior Certificate:Higher Science (A), Spanish (C) example manages to In the education section you only need to go back as Employment History istant Summer 2011 be both vague and Playschool, Trim, Co. Meath Ass far as your Leav ing Certificate (or equivalent). Little Rascals ool arrogant and is likely • Involved in day to day running of playsch Administrative tasks • developed to irritate rather than • Excellent multi-tasking skills njoyed this job! Lol • I <3 children and I really e enthuse a potential Make su re you use spell check! Intern in 16 Summer employer. You may TechLabs, Clondalkin, Dubl Many recruiters will throw a CV in find that your May – Sept 2012 the bin if they spot spelling • Working in the lab clinical tests Avoid text speak covering letter is a • Assisting supervisor with mistakes or grammatical er rors. better vehicle for • Doing research at all costs! • Data entry of results 4 d lab team highlighting your key Emplyrs h8 it! Key Skills Profile strengths relative to • Communication the role. • Teamwork • Problem solving Employment history shou ldbe in reverse chronological order, i.e. • Emotional Intelligence • IT the most recent job shou ld come first. • Planning & Organising

Interests & Achievements This description of • Secretary of Scientific Society minutes responsibilities and –Took ce’ drinkfest 2013 –Helped to organise the ‘Weird Scien A tailor ed key skills prof ile can be great way of highlighting the skills developed is • UCD ladies hockey team l matches skills that you woul d bring to the job. Howeve r , it is not enough to very vague and tells • Won severa • St Vincent de Paul simply list skills – you need to prov ide ev iden ce for each, i.e. how the employer little • Watching TV • Walking my god you have developed that particular skill. about what Josephine • Making new friends actually did and References available on request learned in this role. It If you have held a position of responsibility in a is not enough to say campus club or society, make su re you highlight that you developed this in your CV. The recruiter may not know what excellent multi- the role involved so you need to state this clearly, tasking skills. You making reference to key achievements and the need to state how Remember that spell Avoid listing interests skills that you developed. Be strategic in the these skills were check doesn’t catc h that are very generic achievements that you highlight and how you developed or everything! You need as th ey say little describe them. It might be advisable to exclude demonstrated, i.e. to proofread several abou t you as an mention of the ‘drinkfest’. provide evidence. times, and ideally as k individual. somebody else to proofread, to ensure ther e are no ty pos.

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ANATOMY OF A COVERING LETTER THAT WORKS

How can you create a cover letter that complements your CV? You should always try to address your letter to a specific person. This any people overlook the sounds a lot better than “to‘to whomwhom itit covering letter and only may concern”concern’ oror ‘D“Dearear Sir/Madam’ Sir/Madam”. . include a CV in their You can of ten find a contact name on 2 River Road application. This is a lost the organisation’s website or by Clontarf opportunity,M as a well-written covering phoning their HR department. Dublin 3 letter can greatly enhance your ability Mr. T. Collins 17 March 2015 to market your skills and attributes Head of HR Greenfoods effectively. Two common mistakes that 44 Main Street people make when writing cover The first paragraph should cover who you are and why letters are to produce something that Dublin 1 you are writing. You need to clearly state the job that is little more than a cover note or you are applying for and draw attention to the fact that you have attached your CV. taking it to the opposite extreme by Dear Mr. Collins, reproducing the entire content of their I would like to apply for the position of traine CV in letter format. Neither of these Developmen e commercial manager as ad t Centre website. I am a fi vertised on the UCD Career to complete my studies in May 20 nal year student of French at Unive approaches will go down well with 15 with a 2:1 h rsity College Dublin and expect onours degree. I enc recruiters. It is essential that your CV attention. lose a copy of my CV for your I have researched your we and cover letter support and bsite and your graduate candidate fo management scheme and feel th complement each other. Take a look r your commercial manager programme at I am a strong Spencer introduced . My experience of working It is important that you me to work in a commercial envi part time at Marks & at the example covering letter below: vital in meeting ronment where teamwo do your research. In your sales targets. I was an active me rk and customer care were motivating, challeng mber of my team and found we have drawn your attention to key ing and enjoyable. working to targets cover letter you need to features and highlighted the demonstrate to th e I was also successful in securing a summer internship at Tesco where information that should be included. projects such as allocation o I had the opportunity to employer that you have f floor space to new displays a undertake floor. I had to use my sk nd supervising staff at till ills in leadership, teamwork an s and on the shop gone to the trouble of completed d, at times, persuasi on time with limited resources. My on to get all the work finding abou t who they succe ability to influence and communic You need to ‘sell’ yourself effectively, ssful when I received permission ate effectively was which had from my manager to introd are, what they do and not been as successful as expecte uce a promotion of fair trade prod highlighting how your skills, ex perien ce d. Seeing my idea ucts rewarding and I knew I ha s take form on the shop floor was what it is like to work for d made a difference to the success o very an d attributes that make you the right cent increase in sales. I am p f the store when we recorded them. The company’s articularly drawn to your company a 20 per person for the job. Provide tangible sourcing local, ethically p because of your stated commitment to roduced products on as many prod website is a usef ul examples and ev iden ce – don’ t just list a uct lines as possible. I have been resource bu t you shou ld an active member of the UCD Student Fr series of qualities. and activiti ench Society and have es such as fundraising for charity and o organised a range of events also try to attend partnership with rganising a careers event fo the UCD Career Development Centre. r language students in recruitment I hope that I h presentations/open ave demonstrated the drive, commitme Synthes ise your key points and I have nt and enthusiasm for this ch direct retail and business experience wh allenging programme. even ings, visit their Greenfood ich will help me make sign off politely. If you have exams s upon appointment. an effective contribution to stand at the careers fair coming up and will not be av ailable I look forward to hearing from yo and talk to employees . u. Please note that my final-year exams ta for interv iew during this period you weeks of May 2015. ke place in the first two can mention the exam dates. Yours sincerely, Sarah Murphy

Sarah Murphy Explain why you want to work for the employer – what is it that attracts you to You can draw attention to them ? Again, this is an opportunity to show extra-cu rricu lar activities that you have done your research. and achievements if you feel they provide evidence for relevant skills.

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BE SMART WITH YOUR APPLICATION

Don’t forget that your CV is your first impression, make sure it is accurate and interesting. There is plenty of support, but be as prepared as you can be. UCD Graduate, Sarah Murphy, Tara Kleebaur, Talent Acquisition Lidl Graduate Management Development Programme & Employer Brand Manager at Lidl, gives some insider advice on pitfalls to avoid and practices to observe to make sure your application is successful.

As the economy continues to recover, competition remains high for graduates Avoid basic errors Show your knowledge seeking to land a place on a graduate This applies to whatever form your Essay questions on application forms are programme or to secure that all- application is taking, whether it’s an a great way of showing your knowledge important first job. As recruiters continue online application or the more of the industry and the role and what’s to implement procedures to filter the CVs conventional CV and covering letter. involved. If a question asks ‘what do you they receive, the challenges for graduates Whatever you’re submitting, ensure you think is the most exciting development in have increased. If you don’t set about the get it proofread and checked by someone your discipline in the last 12 months?’, application process correctly, and put else before you submit it. Basic things you will need to have done your research, plenty of thought into it, there is a real such as company names spelled wrongly so make sure you submit a thoughtful chance that your application won’t even and other spelling and punctuation errors and concise answer that will give you the be considered. So this makes a difficult are spotted immediately by recruiters and opportunity to stand out. job more difficult! However, if you know will ensure your CV makes the fast-track what the recruiter is looking for and what to the rejection pile. Ask for advice to expect, you can give yourself the best As I’ve said before, attention to detail is chance of succeeding. Knock-out questions hugely important and cannot be If you’re submitting an application If you’re filling in an online application overstated. Again, use the advice online, write the answers into a word form, you may come across a question available online, make an appointment document first and take plenty of time to that is designed to eliminate a certain with the Career & Skills Consultant in read over them. This will give you time to amount of applicants. For example: do the UCD Careers Development Centre consider your answers before putting they have a 2:1 degree or higher. If you and talk to others who have successfully them on to the online system. Also, use answer ‘no’ to this and the job gone through the process. Advice is free the available help, and talk to the UCD description requires a 2:1, then you will and listening to advice and putting as Career Development Centre about how be automatically eliminated from the much thought and research into the they can help you and what to watch out selection process. application process as possible is the key for. to your job hunt being a successful one.

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ASSESSMENT CENTRES

mployers use a variety of methods to select the best graduates at assessment centres, which can range from a half day to two days inE length. Knowing what to expect and being well prepared will help you to perform well. Find out what the format is and research the role well, and pay close attention to the skills and attributes outlined in the job description - this is what you are being assessed on! Any of the following may form part of your assessment: • Psychometric tests • Team exercises or group work • Case studies • In-tray exercises • Presentations • Individual or group interviews • Social activities

Psychometric tests Group work are asked to deal with many incoming This can be numerical, verbal or abstract This may take the form of a group emails and asked how you would action reasoning tests. The best way to prepare problem-solving exercise, for example. or prioritise these. The key is to remain is practice and you can do this by The thing to remember is that you are calm, and take a logical approach. completing the ‘Test yourself’ section of being assessed on how you work with There may not be a correct answer in Profiling for Success on www.ucd.ie/careers. others, how you persuade and influence. many cases, but you must ensure you can Assessors will look at how you interact explain the reasons for your decisions. with others and if you think logically around a problem, so don’t be too Presentations domineering but don’t be too shy either. Prepare well if you know in advance The key thing is to get involved and try to what you are being asked, practice what HOW WE CAN HELP relax and be yourself. you want to say, keep to the time limit The UCD Career Development (do not go over!) and be calm and Case studies confident. Aim for a clear logical Centre offers regular workshops on This usually involves a written structure, speak at a steady pace and look interview preparation tips and techniques. scenario about a company or a at your audience, smile and connect with Check our events page client where you (on your own or them. Be ready to be asked questions at www.ucd.ie/careers/events for schedule details in a group) must analyse the end. and book your place at information/identify root causes https://careersconnect.ucd.ie/. to a problem and then propose Social activities solutions or recommendations. Many assessment centres also include You can also find lots of useful hints on our Read the questions first so you social activities/meals out where, know where you have to get to, although you won’t be formally assessed, website and www.gradireland.com or pop into think about the context of the you should use the opportunity to meet as the UCD Career Development Centre for company, and have realistic and many representatives and recent hard-copy information or some one- straightforward answers with graduates as you can. Be yourself, engage to-one advice from a Career & practical solutions. in conversation and resist the temptation Skills Consultant. to drink too much. This is also your In-tray exercises opportunity to find out all you can about This task is designed to see how you the organisations, so ask questions and be would prioritise work. You will be given enthusiastic! a laptop and, under time pressure, you

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W T RVIE IPS TE IN INTERVIEWS

NAME Elizabeth McDougall DEGREE & STAGE BAgrSc, Food & Agribusiness Management (2013) After graduating in September 2013, I joined Accenture at the end of October, having INTERVIEWS interned already with them for 3 months in An interview can be a nerve-wracking PROGRAM 2012. As an intern, I fast-tracked through to the TE M final round of the interview process for a experience but remember, it is as much A E U graduate position. When I started, I spent two about you finding out if you want to work D A weeks training in Ireland and a further two with the employer as for them to find out if R G weeks training in Bangalore (India) and some you are a good ‘fit’ with their organisation. of the other graduates went to Chicago! I Research the job and the organisation returned from India at the end of November and thoroughly and prepare well so that you was put on a project with a utilities company are confident and knowledgeable. where I spend time capturing how processes NAME Sheila Boylan are carried out on the retail side of the business What to expect DEGREE & STAGE BBL (2013) and mapping these processes to develop The most common type of interviews are: In the July 2010 I began the 20 month IBEC training materials . The other 10 graduates who Export Orientation Programme with sponsor joined in the same week as me are all on very Telephone interviews company Bord Bia. For the first 6 months, I was different projects in different industries. Usually occur early on in the selection based in Dublin in the Corporate While we work hard, there are numerous process. Prepare well as you would with Communications Department. I was then clubs and societies (such as golf, surfing a standard interview and you might even relocated to the Amsterdam office, where I etc...) and social events throughout the year want to have some summary notes pinned assumed the position of Marketing Assistant such as weekends away, company-wide to the wall. Find a quiet room where you for the remainder of the programme. While I parties and project nights out. Accenture also won’t be disturbed, and make sure to hadn’t given much thought to the idea of provide a generous starting salary, training listen carefully and speak slowly as you working abroad, I was open-minded about my abroad, a company laptop, private health and your interviewer will have no visual career path. insurance and fast-paced career development. cues to help you. One of the most rewarding components of The recruitment process – My advice the EOP programme was the exposure I was The first interview stage consists of three First round interviews given to international business: contributing to sections: understanding of our business and Usually conducted face to face but the ongoing strategic development and the role, competency-based questions and a sometimes are done via telephone, Skype positioning of Irish food and drink, providing short case study. The case study aims to or even automated interview (check out assistance to client companies wishing to assess your problem solving and logic skills expand their export reach, building market sonru.com for more tips). Prepare well by and is based on a typical Accenture client. intelligence capabilities and developing the doing extensive research about the I would recommend that you have specific organisations market growth and promotional company and the role, know what you reasons for why you would like to work for plans. This, coupled with the schooling I Accenture, understand what Accenture do, want to say and have good examples received during my degree, particularly while our sectors and services, our clients and case ready that will demonstrate how you on professional work placement, has studies. It is also important to understand the meet the requirements of the job. The undoubtedly increased my career prospects. role of an analyst and how Accenture uses interviewer also wants to see that you are Upon completion of the programme I technology. All this information can be found enthusiastic, capable and motivated so secured a position with Shannon Meats, a on our website. make sure this comes across! Dutch importer of Irish beef predominantly The final interview stage involves an supplying foodservice and retail sectors in the interview with a senior manager, a fact-finding Second round interviews Netherlands. Although based in Ireland as case study and an interview with a managing Usually involve two or more senior Quality Assurance Manager and working with director. The interviews will be similar to the employees, one of whom may be your key suppliers, I now realise the distinct first round in the sense that they will assess direct manager should you be successful. advantage of having a second language and I your core competencies and your interest in They are interested in how well you will am learning Dutch part-time. However, it was consulting and Accenture. fit into their team and the wider not a prerequisite of the programme and did The fact-finding case study is conducted by department. As always, preparation is so not deter my application. HR and the interviewer will provide you with a important. There are many routes to take when you short overview of a consultancy/client problem. leave college. For me, the IBEC EOP programme The objective will be to seek out the information Panel interviews was the break I needed to establish myself in you need to enable you to make decisions an international business environment while Panel interviews may consist of three or regarding the project. It aims to assess your simultaneously furthering my education and more interviewers. You should make eye analytical and problem-solving ability. successfully completing a postgraduate contact with all the panel members. For this round, try to be relaxed, but diploma in international business development confident! Know your competencies and your Initially look at the person asking you the (which is part of the programme). reasons for choosing Accenture and consulting. question, but be sure to glance around the

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table at all the interviewers to engage and • What do you know about our Describe a situation where you have connect with them. They will all have set organisation? worked effectively as part of a team? questions to ask so be aware of this and • You may also be asked Competency- Give an example of when you have don’t spend too long giving detailed Based Questions. These are questions worked to a tight deadline? answers but be clear, concise and to the where the employer is looking for Describe a recent problem you have had point. Greet everyone with a smile and a evidence that you have demonstrated to solve and how you went about this? handshake on the way in and thank certain competencies (e.g. Teamwork, A great way to answer these questions everyone individually on your way out. Leadership, Problem-solving, and provide the evidence that the Initiative, Working under pressure etc.) interviewers are looking for is to use the Interview Questions in the past. The premise is that if you STAR method. The STAR method gives The interviewers will want to know about have done so before you will do so you a great structure for your answers you, your motivation, your education and again. For example you may be asked and ensures you provide complete and experience, your competencies and skills questions such as: detailed information that the interviewer and they will expect you to understand wants. the job, and be knowledgeable about their organisation and the context in which it operates. Therefore you can prepare for many key questions that you are likely to be asked such as: • Why do you want this job/why did Carol Hunt (Ingredients you apply? Recruitment Manager with • Tell me about yourself? (give a 90 second overview of your CV Kerry Group) shares her top emphasising key information – practice to get it right!) interview tips • Why did you choose your course? • What are your strengths and Before the interview During the interview development areas? (turn any Get the Job spec – or if not available – as Make a good first impression by offering a ‘weaknesses’ into positives by much information as possible about the role confident handshake, smiling, making good demonstrating self-awareness, and – including what the daily activities include! eye contact and dressing smartly. what you have done to improve any Contact HR or the Hiring Manager for this – Listen carefully to what you are being asked, weakness to date so that your example they will be impressed with your pro-active and if necessary pause to compose your ends on a positive note) approach. thoughts or ask for clarification. Evaluate which competencies and skills are Provide a thorough answer to the question required to competently perform the role – you are being asked and be prepared to be more than likely your interviewer will look to grilled on the detail – your preparation assess your competence in these areas – so comes in here (remember STAR) The STAR Method prepare some sample scenarios which you Avoid giving irrelevant information or going can use at interview. off on a tangent – also do not be afraid of Spend some time researching the company silence! of answering a online – avoid memorising facts and figures Maintain good posture – don’t slouch or fold from the website and instead look at their your arms. competency- most recent company accounts and review If you are asked about your weaknesses, use markets and opportunities that are an example that you turned into a strength based question highlighted for the year ahead. You will need and explain how you achieved this. to demonstrate a keen interest in the If you are asked something unexpected, stay S – Situation company and the sector in general. calm, compose your thoughts and think Paint a picture of the example you are Prepare a 1-2 min overview of your CV about how you can relate your answer to going to use. which you can use as your introduction. what they may be looking for. Do you know anyone working in the Have one or two questions prepared – you T – Task company? Contact them and look for could ask about the structure of team, Describe your objective or goal (and advice/tips – most people are really induction training, typical duties and next mention any consequences of not accommodating – e.g. sending a quick steps. achieving it). message to someone via LinkedIn can be Thank the interviewers and try to close off really effective! by saying how much YOU WANT THE JOB! A – Actions Check with UCD Career Development Centre After the interview This is the crux of the answer. It is – have the company been on campus and Reflect on your performance - what went imperative that you explain how you delivered any presentations? These will well and what didn’t go so well. formed the actions, and focus on what you usually contain content on how to prepare Note down what you were asked as you will personally did, avoiding ‘we’. for interviews. be surprised by how quickly you forget this, Try to arrange a mock interview with a Career but it may help for the next time – particularly R – Result & Skills Consultant – bringing as much if there were questions which were unexpected. Briefly describe the positive outcomes/ information as possible on the role along If you were unsuccessful, ask for feedback result of your actions. with you. so you can improve or learn from any mistakes.

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CARRY ON STUDYING: OPTIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDY COULD EVERYONE BE YOUR NEXT STEP

raduate programmes can be For some courses, applications will taught or research-based and can based on your second year or penultimate range from a one-year year results, so if you know that you want postgraduate diploma or masters to enter a profession where further study toG a PhD taking three years or more. is required, it’s advisable to focus on your Conversion courses are generally one-year grades from the first year! taught postgraduate courses that allow graduates to ‘convert’ to a new discipline. Study internationally Students undertake postgraduate studies This can be an interesting addition to for many reasons, usually because study: any CV, but applying for graduate study funding support, scholarship or university • may be essential for entry to overseas can be time-consuming. For award. We have compiled a list of useful professions such as teaching, medicine, example, studying in the USA usually websites which offer information on accountancy; takes around 18 months to set up. The funding available. Make contact directly • allows students to train for a new UCD Career Development Centre has a with the university and enquire whether career, for example, undertaking range of resources for you to use when there are any other sources of funding conversion courses in computer science researching graduate study and funding available. Ensure you check deadlines for where there is a strong job market. options. Fees for universities in some applications and leave enough time to European countries are low and in some draft a winning submission! (e.g. Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden Is graduate study for and Finland) there is a drive to attract How we can help students from elsewhere through Career & Skills Consultants can help you? – consider the English-speaking courses and students to decide which type of graduate following scholarships for foreign students. More study is best suited to them, provide What is your motivation for graduate information can be found on access to information on funding options study? www.findamasters.com or on and offer in-depth support to students on Are you genuinely interested in the www.eunicas.ie (however there is a fee writing personal statements – critical if subject you’re thinking about studying? involved). you are to maximise the success of your Will completing graduate study help you applications. There is an extensive range achieve your career goals? Paying your way & funding your of reference literature at the UCD Career What are the employment prospects for postgraduate studies Development Centre to support your graduates of the programme? Further studies can mean significant plans to study locally, nationally and How will you fund your studies? financial investment and it’s worthwhile internationally. checking out if you are eligible for any

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DY step STU by ER p H te T s R , U g 12–18 months ahead F in Research your area of interest n n and the courses available. a l Identify all online/offline material p about course and possible

d r funding sources. NAME Alison Cooke

a Attend open days where DEGREE & STAGE BA in Psychology, 2013; w

r possible, building up knowledge. Masters in Psychological Science, 2014

o

f Talk to industry professionals

r I chose to apply for postgraduate study because

u and previous students. so many jobs now require a postgraduate o Y qualification. Having a Masters degree is also viewed favourably when applying for Clinical Psychology, which I intend to do in the future. I applied for the Masters in Psychological Science because I wanted to continue studying psychology. I wanted a one-year taught Masters with an applied focus, so this course 9–12 months ahead Where can I explore suited me perfectly. Refine your course choices courses? The course is very different to my in order of preference. undergraduate degree. There is a strong focus Some websites to help you find a graduate Put your application together: this on skills for professional practice and group- course in your area of interest: may involve personal statements, based learning. I am also gaining practical postgradireland.com Official course academic references and transcripts, experience through my role as Research directory for Ireland and Northern Ireland so give yourself enough time to Assistant with the psychology team in the Irish www.prospects.ac.ukUK-based careers prepare these documents. Prison Service. Investigate any sources of funding and courses website support. www.targetpostgrad.com Course Application tips for students: Use the expertise of the UCD Career directory for the UK I was able to take a module in my final year Development Centre: ask a consultant www.internationalgraduate.net ‘Career Development in Psychology’, run by the to cast a final look over documents. International course directory Career Development Centre. If this is not www.eunicas.ie Application support available to you, organise a meeting with the service for European universities. Centre where they can review your CV and personal statement before you use them in applications. Advice on writing a personal statement: Graduate study at UCD Make your personal statement original – ensure 6 months ahead UCD is a good place to start your course it stands out from the crowd and avoid clichés. Focus on final exams and projects: research. The university’s seven graduate Many people applying for the course will ensuring you put your efforts into schools provide Ireland’s widest range of have similar grades to you, so what sets you achieving the best possible final taught and research courses. Visit apart from your peers? Universities want grade will enhance your likelihood of www.ucd.ie/graduatestudiesfor more ‘rounded’ individuals, so focus on relevant work securing a place on the course of your information or contact: experience, voluntary work, extra-curricular choice. [email protected] activities and part-time jobs. Focus on what If you have been offered a place at telephone: +353 (0)1 716 4043. skills you gained from these rather than just this point, return any formal listing them off. acceptance documentation that may Make your personal statement prospective be required. and not just retrospective - how does this Breathe a sigh of relief! course fit with your future career plan? Do not use a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Mention specific modules, the research areas of staff, the University etc.

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 31 Th e Lidl Graduate Programme

Th e performance of your life

Take the stage

The Lidl Graduate Programme is a feast of experiences and opportunities. Discover a new world of professional learning and early responsibility. Find out what happens backstage in a renowned global retailer and learn about us, the business and about yourself. Eighteen PRQWKVZLOOÁ\E\LQDKHDUWEHDWDQGLQ\HDUVWRFRPH you’ll be able to say ‘I was there’. jobs.lidl.ie • jobs.lidl-ni.co.uk Choose to live a little Welcome

JOBS AND COURSE PROVIDERS

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Leading employers and course ne of the ways you might want to focus your career planning is providers with thousands of through deciding upon a broad vacancies who want to hear from career sector and looking at you, plus sources of help about Owhat opportunities lie within. The following pages detail some of the specific careers. opportunities available from larger recruiters in traditional graduate career sectors. The Career Development Centre hosts Graduate and Placement careers Apply now fairs in the Autumn and Spring term and and tell in April you can go to the Springboard Fair, which hosts companies from employers where alternative careers areas – see our website you saw them for specific dates. If you need further help first with getting a job in these sectors talk to employers at our Employer Presentations and Skills Sessions advertised on our website. We can also help if your interests lie in other areas. Use the Career Development Centre and the information resources on our website to research sectors, investigate specific roles and careers and search for vacancies. For information and advice on further study opportunities, again, our website is a great starting point.

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 33 HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR CAREER LIGHTING UP?

WELCOME TO At BAE Systems, we serve the needs of our customers by delivering advanced defence, aerospace and security solutions that provide a technological and performance edge. SUCCESS IN THE With some 84,600 employees in six continents, our story is about talented people who are relentlessly committed to creating solutions that protect and strengthen nations, REAL WORLD. commerce, communities, and people. That’s work that inspires us. That’s BAE Systems. To do that, we’re constantly innovating and looking out for people who can add real value to our business. That’s why we offer exciting and challenging career opportunities to enthusiastic, driven graduates and undergraduates. If you’re aspiring to develop professional excellence, you can join our Graduate Development Framework in a business or engineering role, ranging from human resources to naval architecture. For those who want to be part of a team that builds solutions of the future there’s Applied Intelligence, with roles ranging from cyber security to software engineering. For individuals with the capability and determination to take up a senior finance role in the future, there’s the Finance Leader Development Programme. Or, there’s the Sigma Leadership Programme designed to develop those with the highest leadership potential in to a business or engineering leader of the future. We also welcome undergraduates with bold ambitions to take up an Industrial Placement or Summer Internship. If you’re ready to work on projects that make a real difference, visit baesystems.com/graduates Area Management Recruitment BAE Systems WEB www.baesystems.com/graduates Aldi Stores (Ireland) Limited SOCIAL MEDIA Limerick Road, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. @BAESGraduates BAE Systems Early Careers TEL +353 (0)25 52933 EMAIL [email protected] MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Multiple across the UK WEB www.aldi.ie AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) Real world. Real work. Real challenges. MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Throughout Republic of Ireland Join us as a graduate and you’ll quickly become involved in developing some AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) of the most technologically advanced defence, security and aerospace systems, and receive tailored development to advance your career! Our Area Manager Graduate Training Programme offers fantastic career prospects for graduates seeking to challenge themselves. Rewarding talent About Us and ability, it provides graduates the unique opportunity to run their own We work together with local partners to develop, engineer, manufacture, and multi-million euro business within a year, the potential to work abroad or to support the innovations that sustain economies, increase defence sovereignty progress to a Director position within five years and safeguard commercial interests. With some 84,600 employees in six GRADUATES SOUGHT 2:1 Any discipline continents, our story is about talented people who are relentlessly committed to creating solutions that protect and strengthen nations. That’s work that STARTING SALARY €61,000 rising to €92,000 after four years, a fully inspires us. That’s BAE Systems. expensed Audi A4, a pension scheme, private healthcare PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Continuous What you can expect As one of the world’s most innovative companies, we can offer you an exciting FORM OF APPLICATION Complete an online application form available at aldi.ie and challenging career. Whether it’s our Graduate Development Framework or send your CV together with a covering letter illustrating your leadership (GDF), Applied Intelligence graduate roles, Finance Leader Development potential Programme (FLDP), Sigma Leadership Programme (Sigma), all combine formal APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE Continuous learning with real world challenges. GRADUATES SOUGHT Any discipline STARTING SALARY £25,000 minimum PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Ongoing FORM OF APPLICATION Online APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 200 graduates, 50 industrial placements VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes

Human Resources Recruiting Co-ordinator BDO The Boston Consulting Group Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2 20 Manchester Square London TEL + 353 (0)1 470 0335 W1U 3AN EMAIL [email protected] WEB United Kingdom www.bdo.ie TEL SOCIAL MEDIA www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-ireland/careers 020 7753 5353 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.bcg.com MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Dublin, Limerick AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS London and 80 other offices worldwide BDO is the Irish member firm of BDO International, the number one European- AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) led global accountancy network, a network with over 1,000 member firm offices worldwide. In a marketplace that typically provides two types of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm accounting firms – the large scale global provider, or the smaller relationship- and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients driven local firm, BDO provides a real and sensible alternative. BDO provides in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address the best of both worlds with the reach and resources of a global player and a their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses. Our customised local relationship that matters. approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organisation. This ensures At BDO, you won’t be just another graduate trainee. Smaller client service that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable teams and an excellent partner-to-staff ratio contribute to an environment organisations, and secure lasting results. where our trainees’ work is noticed - by peers, partners and clients. We are GRADUATES SOUGHT looking for enthusiastic graduates to train as Accountants or Tax Consultants in Any discipline our Audit, Tax and Advisory Departments. STARTING SALARY Highly competitive GRADUATES SOUGHT Any discipline – Minimum 2.1 honours degree PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE From 15th September until STARTING SALARY Competitive with comprehensive study package 1st November 2014 FORM OF APPLICATION PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Annual / closing date: Wednesday Online via apply.bcg.com/ukuniversity 29 October 2014 APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE No set number FORM OF APPLICATION Online application only VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 25 FOR VACATION WORK APPLY BY from 1st to 31st January 2015 VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes – apply before April 2015

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 35 CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR YOUR CAREER IN ACCOUNTING AND TAX BDO Graduate Careers

Application Process Apply through our website at www.bdo.ie/graduates and complete our online application form.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 29 October 2014 at 5:30pm

For more information contact us by email at [email protected] or phone 01 470 0335 Gillian Bray Crowe Horwath CHP Consulting Marine House 20 Gresham Street Clanwilliam Court London Dublin 2 EC2V 7JE TEL +353 (0)1 448 2200 TEL 020 7588 1800 EMAIL [email protected] EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.crowehorwath.ie WEB www.chp.co.uk/careers MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Dublin MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Based in London with operations in the US, AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Crowe Horwath, one of the leading Chartered Accountancy and Business AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) Advisory practices in Ireland, is the representative firm of Crowe Horwath CHP Consulting helps asset finance companies improve their business International, a worldwide group of independent accountancy firms. performance by implementing our software - ALFA Systems - and applying our We are looking to recruit graduates who want to train as chartered wide-ranging experience of the industry. Blue-chip clients such as Bank of accountants. We look for graduates, like you, who are dedicated, who work well America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and Toyota Financial under pressure and are prepared to rise to a challenge. You will be thorough in Services have reaped the benefits of CHP’s finest assets: our people. your approach to work, a good team player but also able to work well on your You will begin your career either on a client site or based in the office and your own initiative, and above all, you will be eager and willing to learn. first role will typically be software development. As you gain more knowledge Trainees will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of service of the business and technology, you will have increased responsibility in our areas throughout their training contract. business change implementation projects. GRADUATES SOUGHT All degree disciplines We only recruit people who we think will get on with each other, so the STARTING SALARY atmosphere is friendly and inclusive. Competitive PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE GRADUATES SOUGHT Any discipline Annual – closing date 31 October 2014 STARTING SALARY £40,000 plus £5,000 sign-on bonus FORM OF APPLICATION Online at www.crowehorwath.ie PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Continuous APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 15 FORM OF APPLICATION Online VACATION WORK/COURSES No APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 15–20 VACATION WORK/COURSES No

There are six glasses in a row. The three on the left are full. The three on the right are empty. By moving only one glass, can you make a row of alternating full and empty glasses?

AN IT CONSULTANCY FOR PEOPLE WHO SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY.

Super geek, people person or business brain? We will train you so that you’re able to work on any part of our business change projects, building and implementing our industry-leading software. CHP employs graduates and professionals from many disciplines. Do you have what it takes to be a top Java programmer? Do you make managing complex projects look You will have an outstanding academic background including a 2:1 degree or easy? Could your ideas make leading companies more profitable? better and a minimum of 320 UCAS points. You will be curious, have a logical mind, and be confident, ambitious and ready for a challenge. CHP is established in the UK, US, Asia-Pacific and throughout Europe. You will be based in our London City office and go on to work in a variety of roles on projects Starting salary is £35k and you will join one of our graduate intakes throughout with some of the world’s leading leasing and asset finance companies. the year. Find out more about opportunities with CHP Consulting at www.chp.co.uk/careers.

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 37 Discover THE VITAL INGREDIENT for your career

Kickstart your career with the Jameson Brand Ambassador Programme or Jameson Graduate Distiller Programme

Be part of the Jameson global success story...

APPLY ONLINE TODAY www.thevitalingredient.ie

%QPPGEVYKVJQWT#ODCUUCFQTUVQǷPFQWVOQTG Graduate Recruitment Team Sinéad D’Arcy Deloitte Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard Earlsfort Terrace Simmonscourt House, Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge, Sublin 4 Dublin 2 TEL 01 212 9000 TEL + 353 (0) 1 417 8578 EMAIL [email protected] EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.thevitalingredient.ie WEB www.deloitte.com/ie/graduate SOCIAL MEDIA www.facebook.com/jamesongraduateprogramme, SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @DeloitteLifeIrl, Facebook: Your Future at Deloitte (Ireland) www.youtube.com/jamesongraduateprog, www.twitter.com/jamesongradprog

MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Dublin, Cork, Limerick. MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Head Office, Ballsbridge, Dublin; Bottling, Fox & AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) Geese, Clondalkin, Dublin; Midleton Distillery, Cork AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) As the worldwide leader in professional services and consulting, with 200,000 people in 150 locations and 1,350 in Ireland, our future is shaped by our Irish Distillers is part of Groupe Pernod Ricard and oversee the production, unique culture and distinctive talent experience. marketing and distribution of a number of Pernod Ricard brands including Jameson. We have over 200 graduate opportunities in Professional Services (Audit, Jameson, Irish Distillers flagship brand, is experiencing phenomenal Internal Audit, Tax, Corporate Finance, SME Services), Consulting (Strategy and international growth. With Jameson achieving sales of 4 million cases in 2012 Operations, Human Capital and Finance Transformation) and Technology and the investment of €200 million in a Distillery expansion and new Satellite (Technology Consulting, Analytics, Cyber Security and Forensics, Technology Maturation site there has never been a more exciting time to join the team. The Risk). Applications are encouraged from diverse disciplines for all of our career Vital Ingredient is the Jameson Graduate Programme recruitment campaign. paths, including Accounting, Business, Science, Computer Science, Through two graduate programme offerings the company seeks to recruit, Engineering, Maths, Arts, Law, amongst others train and develop Ireland’s top business, language and science graduates to GRADUATES SOUGHT All disciplines work as part of the Jameson team. The Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme offers graduates an excellent opportunity to kick STARTING SALARY Competitive package start a career in sales and marketing working as Brand Ambassadors in an PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Annual – closing date for international market. The Jameson Graduate Distiller Programme for Food applications is 5pm, Wednesday 22 October 2014 (Autumn 2015/16 start) Science and Process or Chemical Engineering graduates offers the opportunity FORM OF APPLICATION to gain experience in the craft of making Jameson Irish Whiskey. Online GRADUATES SOUGHT Languages, Marketing, Business, Food Science & Process APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE Over 200 opportunities annually or Chemical Engineering VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes STARTING SALARY €28,000 PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE FOR VACATION WORK APPLY BY Discover more: www.deloitte.com/ie/graduate Annual FORM OF APPLICATION Online application plus 2-minute video application APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 10–15

Kerry Graduate Team Alice Kennedy Kerry Group KPMG WEB www.kerrygraduates.com 1 Stokes Place, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 SOCIAL MEDIA https://www.facebook.com/Kerry.Group.Graduate.Recruitment TEL +353 (0)1 410 1248 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.kpmg.ie/careers MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Ireland & UK locations AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast Kerry, a world leader in food ingredients and a leading supplier of consumer foods is recruiting for its Graduate Programme to start in July/August/ AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) September 2015. Kerry has the largest, most innovative portfolio of Taste & KPMG brings together business advisors from many different disciplines – Nutrition Systems and Functional Ingredients & Actives for the global food, working together to provide our clients with the cutting edge business advice beverage and pharmaceutical markets. Kerry Foods is a leading producer of they need for their continued success. With 78 partners and more than 1,900 chilled consumer foods with top brands such as Cheestrings, Low Low and people in offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, our firm is a leading Mattessons. provider of professional services in Ireland. We work with clients in all sectors Our newly designed Global Graduate Programme provides an accelerated path of Irish business providing a range of Audit, Tax and Advisory services. to leadership roles whilst working in an innovative, energetic and global At KPMG, we are looking to recruit 280+ graduates with the drive and environment. Our intensive two year programme offers: Early access to senior determination to succeed in a fast-moving business environment. All of our leaders, Global secondments and assignments, Residential off-site training trainees pursue the ACA qualification while training in our Audit, Tax, and and Innovative project work and presentations to senior leaders. At Kerry, Advisory practices. Regardless of your degree subject, if you have an interest graduates are offered real roles with real responsibility. We recognise potential in a career in business then we would be happy to hear from you. and reward great performance with world class development and unlimited GRADUATES SOUGHT All degree disciplines opportunities for career growth. We are now recruiting for our next generation of global leaders. Our best in class Graduate Programme provides an STARTING SALARY Competitive accelerated path to leadership whilst working in an innovative, energetic and PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Wednesday 22 October 2014 global environment.Kerry Group has around 100 vacancies in Accounting and FORM OF APPLICATION Online Finance, R&D, Engineering, ICT, Operations, Procurement, Supply chain, APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE Quality, Sales Marketing and Category management and HR. 280+ GRADUATES SOUGHT Any discipline VACATION WORK/COURSES Summer Internships STARTING SALARY Competitive package FOR VACATION WORK APPLY BY N/A PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Please apply by 31/01/15 FORM OF APPLICATION Online – www.kerrygraduates.com APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 100

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 39 CVs jobs

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Marketing leading board Register for job alerts and more Go to gradireland.com/registration Graduate Recruitment Team Melissa Hopper M&G Investments Mott MacDonald Laurence Pountney Hill Mott MacDonald House London 8–10 Sydenham Road EC4R 0HH Croydon CR0 2EE United Kingdom WEB www.mandg.co.uk TEL 020 8774 2176 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.mottmac.com/careers/graduate MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS City of London SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @MottMacGraduate, With approximately £248bn* under management and a record of investment www.facebook.com/mottmacdonaldgroup excellence stretching back over more than 80 years, M&G, the UK and European investment arm of the Prudential group, is one of the UK’s leading MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Our head office is based in Croydon and we have and most respected fund management groups. around 30 offices throughout the UK. We’re not your average financial services firm and our unique culture is just AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) one aspect that makes us stand out from the crowd. We offer a supportive Mott MacDonald is an employee owned global management, engineering and environment that encourages innovation and creativity whilst maintaining a development consultancy employing more than 16,000 staff, working in 140 healthy work/life balance. countries and with an annual turnover of more than £1.2 billion. We deliver Recruiting and retaining talent is vital to our continued success. Investing in technical expertise across 12 core sectors: buildings; communications; your development is just the beginning. education; environment; health; industry; international development; oil and *as at 31 March 2014 gas; power; transport; urban development and water. GRADUATES SOUGHT Any discipline We recruit graduates from engineering backgrounds as well as a number of STARTING SALARY Competitive other disciplines and in return you will have a place on our award winning graduate programme. PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Annual GRADUATES SOUGHT Engineering and other FORM OF APPLICATION online STARTING SALARY £24,000–£28,000 APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 25 grads & 35 interns PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE We are open in October and recruit VACATION WORK/COURSES Insights Day continually but early applications are encouraged. FORM OF APPLICATION Online APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 250 VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes FOR VACATION WORK APPLY BY December

Graduate Recruitment Team Stefanie Weigelt, University Marketing PwC Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland Mythenquai 50/60, 8022 Zurich, Switzerland TEL +353 (0)1 792 8550 TEL +41 (0)43 285 97 99 EMAIL [email protected] EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.pwc.ie/graduate WEB www.swissre.com/careers SOCIAL MEDIA www.twitter.com/pwcirl_careers SOCIAL MEDIA Linkedin, Twitter, Youtube www.facebook.com/pwcirelandcareers www.youtube.com/pwcireland MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Swiss Re has www.linkedin.com/company/pwc-ireland 67 office locations in more than 20 countries in Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) MAIN LOCATIONS OR REGIONS Founded in 1863 Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading wholesale By choosing a career with PwC, you’ll become part of the leading professional providers of reinsurance, insurance and other innovative forms of insurance services firm in Ireland with 2000 people across our offices in Dublin, Cork, based risk transfer. Our business at Swiss Re is about understanding and Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. You’ll also join a global analysing the major risks that concern the world − from natural catastrophes network covering 158 countries and employing over 180,000 people to climate change, from ageing populations to cybercrime. We combine worldwide. AREAS OF ACTIVITY & JOB FUNCTION(S) experience with expertise and innovative thinking to create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. And we enable the risk-taking essential to Whichever area you choose to join, you’ll learn, discover and develop through enterprise and progress. This is only possible with around 11,500 truly the work you do and the experiences you have. We offer a wide variety of exceptional Swiss Re people across our group worldwide. career opportunities so you’re bound to discover something that fits you Our goal is to attract talented people from a broad range of disciplines and perfectly. We have graduate opportunities available in Assurance, Tax, Risk backgrounds and offer them a place to succeed. As a knowledge-based Assurance Solutions (RAS) and Consulting. GRADUATES SOUGHT company, we consider four areas to be particularly important for this: we Any discipline foster diversity and inclusion; we provide excellent development and training STARTING SALARY Competitive opportunities; we work to maintain favourable employee relations; and we offer PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE competitive compensation and benefits. Consulting applications – 5pm Friday 17 October 2014. GRADUATES SOUGHT All disciplines All other applications – 5pm Wednesday 22 October 2014. STARTING SALARY Competitive FORM OF APPLICATION Online application form PATTERN OF RECRUITMENT/CLOSING DATE Annual APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 250 FORM OF APPLICATION Online application, interview, assessment day VACATION WORK/COURSES Yes APPROX ANNUAL INTAKE 50 worldwide FOR VACATION WORK APPLY BY Please see website for details VACATION WORK/COURSES No

facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 41 SECTOR JOBS AND COURSE PROVIDERS

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Advertisement Profile Company name Built Built enviro Bu Computing & IT IBC 35 Aldi Stores (Ireland) Limited www.aldi.ie 34 35 BAE Systems www.baesystems.com/graduates • 36 35 BDO www.bdo.ie – 35 The Boston Consulting Group www.bcg.com 37 37 CHP Consulting www.chp.co.uk/careers • – 37 Crowe Horwath www.crowehorwath.ie – 39 Deloitte www.deloitte.com/ie/graduate • 38 39 Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard www.thevitalingredient.ie – 39 Kerry Group www.kerrygraduates.com • – 39 KPMG www.kpmg.ie/careers – 41 M&G Investments www.mandg.co.uk • – 41 Mott MacDonald www.mottmac.com/careers/graduate • • • OBC 41 PwC www.pwc.ie/graduate – 41 Swiss Re www.swissre.com/careers •

OTHER ADVERTISERS:Lidl, page 32; Susquehana International Group, IFC IFC = inside front cover IBC = inside back cover OBC = outside back cover

DON’T FORGET TO MENTION THE ULTIMATE CAREERS GUIDE: UCD WHEN CONTACTING EMPLOYERS OR COURSE PROVIDERS

42 THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 www.ucd.ie/careers facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers PR)

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facebook.com/ucdcareers @UCDCareers www.ucd.ie/careers THE UCD CAREER GUIDE 2014/15 43 further study fair February RDS, Dublin, 12pm–4.30pm

C Fundi aree ng and ad rs appl vice ications

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Awards 2013

Graduate employer of the year

Awards 2012 Sector awards accountancy/ professional services

Sector awards accountancy/ professional services

Sector award: Financial services

Sector awards: Finance and financial services 'LDUPXLGDWKLVVRFLDOPHGLDFOLHQWłVRIğFH

Graduate opportunities 2015 Your career is just that. Yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it happen. To get the best from it, you need the best opportunities. That’s why opportunities are at the heart of a career with us. Opportunities to grow as an individual, to build lasting relationships and make an impact in a place where people, quality and value mean everything. For Diarmuid, that’s meant working with large Irish and global organisations on a range of projects allowing him to gain a broad perspective and global view of business. Join PwC – we’re focused on giving you the opportunities to reach your full potential. www.pwc.ie/graduate www.facebook.com/pwcirelandcareers Twitter: @pwcirl_careers

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