ERASMUS Making the Most of Your Experience Abroad UCC Careers Service

Year Abroad - Objectives  Why are you going? –To develop your Language Skills –To experience a Culture –Adventure  What will you gain from the year? –Fluency –Cultural knowledge & experiences –New network of Friends/Colleagues –Independence  How will you apply your experiences when you return? –New study techniques –New outlook on your course  Long-term benefit –Career Development

Outputs of ERASMUS Personality Openness Self- confidence Problem- solving ability Maturity Sociability Teamwork Cultural Awareness

Erasmus & Employment  Job Market is an International one: competing with Irish graduates & highly qualified graduates from other countries.  Demonstrating that you have lived, studied and worked in another environment enables you to compete more effectively.  “The value of a student’s international experience goes beyond purely the acquisition of language – it lies in the ability to see business and personal issues from other than your own cultural perspective.” Charles Macleod, Head of UK Resourcing, Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Erasmus & Employment The Erasmus Experience will give you many new transferable skills for future employment and for future studies…  You will gain different insights and outlooks on life – employers value awareness  You will learn new independence – employers value independent thinking  Living in another European country will give you life skills which cannot be taught and which may take others much longer to acquire - employers value maturity  Studying in another European country encourages a flexible approach to learning and working - employers value adaptability

Comparison of Mobile & Non-Mobile Graduates by Employers International Centre for Higher Education Research, 2006

Erasmus & Employment Door- opener Basic requirement Signal for motivated and engaged students Nice to have Necessary in a globalised world Screening factor

Impact of ERASMUS on Obtaining their First Job International Centre for Higher Education Research, 2006

Making the Most of Your Time  Don’t stay in Erasmus Groups all the time  Conversation Exchange Sessions  Media: Television, Radio & Newspapers  Join Clubs & Societies  Travel in your host country  Part-time Work

Wide World of Opportunities  Network with employers  Visit recruitment agencies/websites  Visit the University’s Careers Service  Investigate Postgraduate opportunities & funding  Investigate Commission re: stage and administrative positions

Returning to UCC Your Final Year Be Prepared!

Planning for 2011/12  Update your CV with your Erasmus Experience & results  Milk Round : October ’11 – March ‘12  Graduate Recruitment Fair:October 2011  Postgraduate Studies Exhibition:February 2012  Drop in Service All details available on Careers Service Website: Career Strategy

Keep in touch… us or go online Website: us at:

ERASMUS ENJOY!