The tech industry in Ireland continues to grow and opportunities exist for graduates, whether from an ICT background or not. But what do tech companies actually want? What is needed to start up a tech company of your own?
The Irish Internet Association (IIA ) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA ) have teamed up with Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT ) and the Information Technology Association of Galway (ITAG ) to hold an open seminar on these questions. This is an opportunity to understand what tech companies are seeking and what skills graduates need when going to work or setting up on their own in the sector.
The seminar will be addressed by a panel of speakers from leading companies such as Fidelity Investments, Lionbridge, and Storm Technology. Local representatives from Cisco, IBM, Avaya, and Hewlett-Packard are also expected to attend the event.
“The IIA represents employers in Ireland seeking to hire graduates of all disciplines into the tech industry and indeed employers from all industries seeking to fill ICT roles,” said Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the Irish Internet Association.
“The range of opportunities for graduates is immense and events like this allow us to talk with students directly and share with them more specifically the kind of skills, qualities, and qualifications that employers are really looking for.
“It's a great way for students too to build their network with prospective employers and to ask questions in this open and informal forum,” Ms Mulvihill added. “This isn't just for engineering and computer science students. Many of the larger tech companies are equally looking for business, languages, and marketing graduates too, so ideally we'll have students attending from the gamut of disciplines."
Malcolm Byrne, head of communications at HEA, said: “This seminar is your chance to understand what tech companies are seeking when they go to employ graduates, and what skills graduates need when going to work or setting up on their own in the sector.”
The free event takes place on Monday January 20 at 6pm in Room 994, GMIT Galway. It will last one hour and will be followed by a networking reception, with light refreshments.
