Employability for Language Students David Broderick - EOP Manager, IBEC LYIT 27 th March 2012

Structure  What is EOP  Definition of employability  Where the jobs will be  Core competencies  What you can do to optimise employability

EOP is Ireland’s longest-running and most successful graduate placement programme EOP is typically a 12 month programme with usually at least 6 months spent abroad Practical experience in an international business environment With retention rates in excess of 88%, EOP graduates have used the experience to launch highly successful careers across all sectors of industry What is EOP?

EOP also runs the 18-month the Food Export Graduate Programme that incorporates an internationally recognised Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Development specifically tailored for the food & drink industry. Option to continue on to do the MSc in International Business Development. - 5 days spent in DIT completing coursework. - Dissertation-style, focus on elements of international business. - First batch just about to graduate. Additional Programmes

The EOP- Tourism. A 24-month programme that incorporates the PG-Diploma in International Business Development, specifically tailored for the Tourism industry. -Option to continue on to do an MSc in International Business Development. Some placement are now based in Ireland, but working on International Markets. Examples include: - EMC: Based in Cork, but working on the Israeli market. - Apple : Based in Cork but working on the worldwide market. - Hertz : Based in Dublin working on their European markets. Additional Programmes

Unparalleled access to worldwide placements in companies ranging from high potential start-ups to major multinationals such as Apple, EMC, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Magners, Dawn Farm Foods, Slaney, Irish Dairy Board, Taxback.com and Kepak The opportunity to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Development, awarded at level 9 on the HETAC scale, with potential to progress to MSc level A highly attractive benefits and remuneration package, including flights allowance, accommodation allowance and monthly bursary payments What’s in it for candidates?

Typical Candidate Profile Open to graduates of all disciplines Best in their area Holistic overview means looking at: –qualification –work experience –language skills –driver’s licence –interests –research projects

Language Graduates  International business, marketing, exporting: This sector is the driver of economic growth and recovery. However, it is also widely acknowledged that Ireland needs more graduates with excellent language skills to work in this sector.  Languages graduates are highly attractive to employers because of their mix of proficiency in more than one language, excellent communication and intercultural skills, specialist knowledge and experience of living and working overseas.

Language Graduates  Software, IT and Internet sector: The software and IT sectors are also continuing to grow and are at present actively recruiting graduates with advanced language proficiency and technical communication skills to localise software, write manuals for global and domestic audiences and keep up with the growing multilingualism on the Internet.

Language Graduates  Modern language teaching at secondary level. From your primary degree from which you can go on to do the H.Dip, or you could choose to do the Graduate Diploma in Education (Languages), which also qualifies you as a teacher.  Translating and interpreting  Communications, media and public relations  English Language Teaching  Further study with a view to professional qualification (e.g. Speech and Language Therapy) or a research and academic career.

Language Graduates  Graduates with language skills are in a strong position in the current labour market, as this is one of the areas where skills shortages are reported. In particular, a second European language is said to significantly increase your long-term job opportunities. Languages in combination with another skill, such as logistics or marketing/sales, will make you particularly employable.

Definition  Employability –‘A set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy.’

“Many of the jobs in 2015 and most of the jobs in 2030 do not currently exist and cannot be foreseen yet.” Expert Group on New Skills for New Jobs – Report prepared for the European Commission (February 2010 ) Tomorrow’s jobs

Tomorrows Jobs Let’s look at the industries in Ireland:  8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.  9 out of the top 10 global ICT companies.  5 of the top global software companies.  15 out of the top 25 medical devices companies.  More than 50% of the worlds leading financial services firms.  Food & Drink- Exports €8.9bn to 120 countries

ICT  Tech sector is thriving  approx 70 jobs announced every week since the start of the year  Currently there are roughly 3,500 vacancies in the sector (this needs to be addressed as there is clearly a skills shortage)  Not just tech jobs but jobs in marketing, sales, product management, project management, multilingual roles, business analytics etc.

Ireland’s Food and Drink Industry  €24bn turnover  600 companies  46,000 and 60,000 indirect employees  Utilises 90% of agricultural output  Largest net exporter of beef, lamb and dairy ingredients in the EU  80% of dairy and 90% of beef exported and produces 15 ->20% of the global supply of infant formula

Food & Drink Industry-The future is bright  The world will have to produce 70% more food to feed another 2.3bn people by 2050 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation  The national agri-food strategy Food Harvest 2020 has  A vision of SMART, GREEN, GROWTH  A target of increasing exports to €12bn by 2020  EG: IBEC’s Food Export Graduate Programme

IBEC Survey 2010

How can you increase your employability??  Get involved  Being active in clubs and societies is a great way to show your interest in particular areas and can be a great talking point at interviews.  Group projects and presentations  Group work will show employers that you have experience in teamwork, communication, leadership and working under pressure. Make sure to try out all duties in group projects, especially communicator, facilitator and team leader.

How can you increase your employability??  Work experience  Many students use part time jobs to supplement their income while in college. Be smart about this and don’t just go for the easy option. Use your part time job to get experience in the sector you want to end up in.  Charity work  Automatically tells a prospective employer a lot about your personal characteristics. Combine summer abroad with charity work too.

How can you increase your employability??  USE YOUR SUMMERS!!  Programmes like the J1 are ideal for showing prospective employers that you are:  independent and organised enough to live away from home in a new country  Capable of working in a different culture  interested in broadening your horizons  Languages…..

And finally…. Thank you for listening!! David Broderick