Several hundred students, graduates, and others are expected to attend the annual GMIT careers and recruitment fair, which will take place at the institute’s Dublin Road campus on Tuesday next.
The public event offers jobseekers the opportunity to meet employers in engineering, science, business, information technology, hotel and catering, and creative arts/humanities, and to hear about career trends, current job vacancies, and opportunities in Ireland and abroad.
Some 70 companies and organisations are taking part in the event including Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland, Cisco Corporation, Intel, Medtronic, Ericsson Ireland, and Enterprise Ireland. A number of recruitment companies will also be present along with volunteering and charity organisations and third level colleges offering information on education and volunteering programmes at home and abroad.
Information will be available on work placements, internships, postgraduate and research programmes, careers workshops and seminars, and interesting initiatives for this year’s GMIT graduates such as the GMIT Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme.
According to GMIT careers officer Bridie Killoran GMIT students are well prepared for the workplace, having practical as well as academic skills from their studies in GMIT.
“There are still many opportunities for employment out there, however you have to spend time sifting and networking in order to find them,” Ms Killoran said. “In the boom times these job opportunities were advertised, but not any more. Job vacancies are now in the hidden job market and we have to understand how this works in order to be successful at finding that job vacancy.
“The ‘job for life’ idea is well and truly gone,” she added. “Employers are now looking for graduates with skills to work in a very flexible and ever-changing environment. Where employers looked previously for transferable skills in communications, time management, being a team player, etc, they now look for people with mental toughness, who have drive and energy, innovation, and ideas. This is of course in response to the very tough business climate that exists today.”
The GMIT careers and recruitment fair will take place in GMIT on Tuesday October 11 from 12 noon to 3pm. For further information phone (091 ) 742778 or email [email protected]
