
Step-by-step guide to getting a place on that grad programme
programmes are a great starting point for people starting off in the world of work. They provide training, money and a chance to build your career by developing a network and getting support from people in your industry.
They're not necessarily the right fit for every graduate, and many closing dates have already passed – but what do college graduates need to know about them, and what's the best way to get on one?
Options after college
There are three typical routes for college graduates:
The first is to either take some time out for travel or jump straight into a postgraduate course.
The second option is to get a specific role in a small- to medium-sized company.
The third is to get a place on a graduate programme.
Step 1: Decide if you want to be on a graduate recruitment programme
Graduate programmes are entry-level jobs for recent graduates. There's a focus on structured training, often encompassing multiple aspects of the business. Graduates usually move from one rotation – perhaps in marketing, human resources or a technical area of the business – to another. Most programmes are two years; some are longer or shorter.
READ MORE
Typically, these programmes are run by larger – often international – companies including in areas such as retail, banking and finance, pharmaceuticals or law.
Most graduate programmes are open to graduates of any background, so an arts student could potentially apply to an accounting firm, or an engineering graduate to a law firm, for instance.
Step 2: Look for a company you'd like to work for
Graduate programmes are highly competitive but the companies that offer them are also competing for the best talent – so the ball is not entirely in their court.
'There may be graduates out there who are looking for a job and worried about security,' says Mary McCarthy, careers adviser at
University College Cork
. 'My advice is to try not to panic. Research employers and the kind of jobs on offer, before narrowing it down to areas you are more interested in and enthusiastic about.
'Be discerning, and don't just go off a company's reputation – particularly if it's a big, well-known company. Look at their culture, look at LinkedIn pages of their workers and alumni, and get a strong sense of what exactly it is about them that you like, and why you would want to start their career there.'
Step 3: Consider what employers are looking for
'Employers want authenticity,' says McCarthy. 'Self-awareness is key for applicants. A student needs to do a real audit of themselves and their skills, and that applies whether they worked as a kitchen porter or in customer service, or as a bartender during college.'
Because most students have worked in jobs that don't usually require a degree – such as shop, restaurant or bar work – graduate employers don't expect that they'll be highly skilled and experienced.
'What did you do at your job? Did you train new staff in? Were you responsible for opening up or closing? Did you bring about change? On your CV, describe it – and include metrics – for instance, you may have increased coffee sales by 15 per cent. Or maybe you trained the newcomers. Talk about the knowledge and skills you gained, and highlight the skills and knowledge.'
Employers have typically looked at student involvement in college clubs and societies, as it's here that many graduates built up their human (or 'soft') skills, such as working in a team, delivering to deadlines and running a project or event.
That is changing, however.
'Not every student can get involved in clubs and societies any more,' says McCarthy. 'Some may not have been able to get accommodation and so have to commute long distances. Or they may just be too busy with part-time work.'
But these graduates should not be left behind, as employers are increasingly aware of the barriers to getting involved in student life. 'Look at how you juggled deadlines for college projects, what you did, what the challenges and high points were, and what skills and capabilities you picked up along the way,' McCarthy advises.
'You might pick out some of the key academic modules that you feel help you to showcase yourself. Look at one or two significant projects and flesh them out, perhaps showing how you worked in teams, and what insights and skills you gained from it.
'Employers also love it if you have studied or worked abroad.'
Step 4: Prepare your application
Many students will have completed a work placement as part of their undergraduate degree, says McCarthy. 'These students will already have done up a CV and targeted employers for work, so they tend to be quite clued in.
'For those who did not do a work placement, the process can, sometimes, be more daunting. But most college career services, including our own, offer plenty of help and support with applications.'
The CV remains important, but LinkedIn is at least equally – if not more – important, says McCarthy. 'Think of it like watering a plant, you need to keep your LinkedIn vibrant and up to date. Employers do look at LinkedIn, so make sure it's not just a rehash of the CV.'
Sinéad Brady, a career psychologist who works with graduates and companies, says that a good application respects the job description. 'The company has spent time writing the job description in this way. You don't have to have everything they're looking for, but if you hit 60-70 per cent of the requirements, apply.
'Most companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS), an algorithm that searches for the key words and traits employers are seeking, so make sure and repeat key words from the job description or you may not get through this filter,' she says.
Brady advises applicants not to use ChatGPT or any other AI programme to write their CV for them. 'You can use it for spelling and grammar, and to check if your application form has any gaps compared to the job description. You have to use it skilfully, as it's only as good as the prompts that you give it.'
Make sure that you don't lie in your application, Brady says – and lock down your social media if there's anything you wouldn't love an employer or your future boss to see.
Some companies use metrics such as aptitude and personality tests, but these are less common for graduate programmes.
Step 5: The interview
Interviews are nerve wracking. 'If you're nervous, acknowledge it in the interview,' Brady advises. 'Nerves are okay, because it means it is important to you, so don't scold yourself.
'Preparation is key, so make sure that you've read the application form and job description. And remember, they are not hiring for your track record, but for your potential.'
Dr Mary Collins, senior practitioner coach and a chartered psychologist with the RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences, agrees that preparation is crucial.
She advises:
Look at the organisation's strategy and core values, and then map your experience and ambition to them.
Focus on your five key strengths and your achievements.
Show them what you're proud of: you probably don't have huge work experience, so it's okay to draw from your academic, personal and volunteer life – perhaps you're proud of a difficult situation that you managed well.
More enlightened organisations should avoid the 'terrible question' of your biggest weakness. If they do ask, avoid cliched answers, and be authentic. You can be up front about a weakness, but show what you are doing to address it, whether that's through focusing on personal growth, working with a coach or filling a skills gap.
Step 6: You're in
If you do make the cut, make the most of the opportunity.
Ideally, find a
mentor
within the organisation and, if possible, one outside it. It can help you to understand both the industry and the wider world of work. It usually means meeting, in person or over a call, perhaps once or twice a month.
The mentor gets the benefit of sharpening their skills, while the mentee receives the benefit of their wisdom, experience and mistakes.
Daniel Plastikovs did an internship with ESB and later joined its graduate recruitment programme
My graduate programme: Daniel Plastikovs
I studied electrical and electronic engineering at TU Dublin. As part of this, I did an internship in my third year with ESB.
Because I did well on the internship, they offered me a place on the graduate recruitment programme, subject to passing exams and meeting their requirements.
TU Dublin's career service offered lots of support with CV and interview preparation, and most colleges offer similar services to graduates.
The ESB graduate programme is two-and-a-half years, with two rotations. I'm currently in my first rotation, focused on high-voltage substation design, and my main job is to produce physical drawings of the new substations, or substations that we are upgrading.
Graduate programmes offer on-the-job training, and it's a great way to learn. After a three-day induction, we did essential skills training and a week of technical training. One of our training modules can be used as a credit for an NFQ level nine (postgraduate) qualification.
I'm quite early in my career at this stage, so the second rotation will hopefully give me more of a taste of the industry. Many people here have moved across multiple roles, with some starting in technical roles and, later, moving into areas like marketing or human resources. I feel confident that this programme will lead to plenty of flexible and interesting roles.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Paschal Donohoe's Eurogroup presidency: an important role - but don't forget the day job
Paschal Donohoe's re-election as president of the Eurogroup reflects a strong performance in the role over his previous two terms and the confidence of his euro zone colleagues Donohoe successfully campaigned for a third term and before the vote was even taken other candidates had thrown in the towel. France and Germany supported Donohoe, along with enough other ministers to give him a majority. Chairing the Eurogroup, an informal but important gathering of the 20 finance ministers from euro zone countries, is effectively an exercise in consensus-building, as countries try to move key issues forward, mostly for decision by the European Council. Reflecting the need to broker compromises between the major players, the job has never been held by one of the biggest member states – the previous incumbents were from Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal. Donohoe chaired the group through the turbulence of Covid-19, the outbreak of the Ukraine war and the cost-of-living crisis, all of which inevitably took some focus off longer-term projects, such as creating a fully-functioning capital markets and banking union. These strategic developments are likely to be a key focus of Donohoe's third term. The Eurogroup also has an important role in the proposed digital euro – a project which has yet to grab the public's imagination. And it will remain a key sounding board for countries as they negotiate the fall-out from Trump's tariffs. READ MORE It is undoubtedly of value to Ireland to have a senior figure in such a central role, particularly given the access granted to the president of the Eurogroup to other vital gathering, such as those of the G7. This will, for example, have helped Donohoe plot a way for Ireland through the OECD corporate tax process, though unfortunately this deal is now in danger of collapse. That said, Donohoe also had a vital role to play at home, with tense budget negotiations ahead and uncertainty over the outlook for the public finances. He must, in other words, also continue to focus on the day job.


Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
US may limit Aer Lingus flights because of Dublin Airport passenger cap, industry group warns
The Government may have just months to axe the 32-million-a-year cap on passengers at Dublin Airport before the US limits Aer Lingus flights to its airports, a North American industry group warns. Airlines for America (A4A), whose members include US and Canadian carriers that fly from the US to the Republic, maintains that the passenger limit on Dublin Airport breaches European Union-North American open-skies air-travel treaties. According to Keith Glatz, A4A's senior vice-president of international affairs, the US could respond to the cap by limiting Irish airlines' access to the US. Aer Lingus is the only Irish carrier offering regular scheduled transatlantic flights. Mr Glatz explained that he was not speaking for the US government, but noted that 'typically' Washington's department of transportation can respond to an illegal breach of the treaty by limiting the number of cities to which a country's airlines can fly. READ MORE He cautioned that the time left for the Irish Government to end the cap and avoid such a sanction was narrowing. 'We're talking about a couple of months to get this done, and not a year,' Mr Glatz said. The pressure from the US administration on the Government to act is likely to increase as time progresses, he predicted. [ Dublin Airport passenger cap to be breached this year, says DAA Opens in new window ] Mr Glatz stressed that A4A believed that Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Transport and the Government, wanted to keep a pledge to lift the cap and ensure the Republic complied with air-travel treaties. He also maintained that his organisation had good relationships with both Mr O'Brien and the Department of Transport. 'We're working closely with them, they're working with the US government, they're moving, but slower than we would like them to move,' he said. How the wealthy are buying up land to avoid inheritance tax Listen | 22:03 'They understand that they have to do this, and that now is the time to get this done, before a small issue becomes a larger, international dispute.' A4A believes that legislation to lift the cap is drafted, meaning that it is simply a matter of time before the Oireachtas passes it and the cap is lifted. Planners imposed the limit in 2007 as a condition of allowing airport operator, DAA, to build a second terminal at Dublin, to address fears of traffic congestion. Shortly after taking office in January, Mr O'Brien confirmed that he had sought the advice of Rossa Fanning, Attorney General, on resolving the row through legislation. The Minister subsequently predicted this would be ready by the autumn. A department spokesman said on Monday that the Minister was examining a range of issues relating to the passenger cap and was continuing to 'engage with key stakeholders'. The High Court suspended the cap's implementation when it referred questions raised in a legal challenge by airlines to the European courts. A4A is a party to that challenge, initiated by Aer Lingus and Ryanair, but Mr Glatz said that the referred issues related to European and Irish competition law, not to European Union-North American air-travel treaties. He argued that those treaties made possible the Republic's relationship with the US, worth trillions of dollars, and predicted that lifting the cap would spark further growth. Aer Lingus did not comment on any likely sanctions but the airline has consistently warned of the economic damage that it threatens.


Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Banks and tech keep European shares in the green
European shares closed up slightly, driven by banking and technology stocks as investors weigh up the impending US tariff deadline on Wednesday. The European Union still aims to reach a trade deal by July 9th after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and US President Trump had a 'good exchange' with the US trade secretary saying the US will make several trade announcements in the coming days. Dublin Despite the uncertainty, the Iseq All-Share index ended the session up 1.05 per cent at 11,439.60. In a quiet session, the index outperformed its European counterparts driven by big caps Ryanair and Bank of Ireland. READ MORE The airliner rose 2.95 per cent to €24.4 as part of a sectoral uplift which saw the industry perform well globally. Bank of Ireland led the banks in a positive day for the sector, up 2.47 per cent to €12.425, with AIB up 1.09 per cent and Permanent TSB up 0.48 to keep the sector in the green. Food stocks Glanbia and Kerry Group both ended the day in the red, down 1.78 and 0.76 per cent respectively as the two continued ongoing stock buyback programmes. London The blue-chip FTSE 100 was unchanged on the day but notched up a second weekly gain, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 lost 0.7 per cent on Friday and ended the week lower. The midcap index had logging its largest quarterly gain in more than four years by the close of trade on Monday, but then came under pressure as U-turns on welfare reforms blew a hole in UK chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget plans. Home builder stocks led sectoral losses on Friday, dropping 2.1 per cent after MJ Gleeson warned of profit being at the lower end of market expectations for fiscal 2026 due to subdued demand. The group slumped 6.7 per cent and was the top decliner on the smallcap index. Industrial metal stocks fell, tracking lower metal prices. Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore slipped more than 1 per cent each. Atalya lost 3 per cent. Among individual stocks, greeting card and gifting retailer Moonpig fell 8.7 per cent to the bottom of the midcap index after a rating downgrade by Deutsche Bank. Shares of Shell dropped 2.9 per cent after the energy big said it expects quarterly earnings to be hit by weaker trading in its integrated gas division and losses at its chemicals and products operations. Europe European shares ended higher on Monday, driven by gains in technology and bank stocks at the start of a week where investors are on the lookout for any trade-related headlines in the countdown toTrump's tariff deadline. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 0.4 per cent higher, gaining some ground after clocking a weekly loss on Friday. On Monday, technology stocks were among the biggest boost on the STOXX, with Germany's SAP and Dutch semiconductor equipment makers ASML climbing around 2 per cent each. A gauge of euro zone lenders gained 1.6 per cent, with France's Société Générale jumping 2.8 per cent, hitting its highest level since 2017 earlier in the day. Capgemini fell 5.6 per cent after the French IT services firm agreed to buy technology outsourcing company WNS for a cash payment of $3.3 billion (€2.8 billion). New York Following a rally to all-time highs, the S&P 500 lost steam, with a gauge of megacaps down in midafternoon trading on Monday. Tesla tumbled as Elon Musk announced he's formed a new political party, digging deeper into a pursuit that's been a drag on his most valuable business. Elsewhere, copper and other industrial metals slid after Trump injected fresh uncertainty into his trade agenda with a pledge to impose a 10 per cent tariff on countries aligned with the Brics bloc of nations. Oil crept higher even after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (Opec+) decided on a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, with the group's leadership showing confidence the market can absorb the extra barrels. Shares of WNS jumped double digits following the news that French IT services firm Capgemini agreed to buy the outsourcing firm for $3.3 billion in cash. – Additional reporting, Reuters, PA.