3 minute read
RECRUIT WITH UCC CAREER SERVICES
As Ireland reopens for business, University College Cork is busy planning for the start of the new academic year on 28 September, Mary McNulty, Head of UCC Career Services, explains how UCC can help develop and recruit the most talented graduates for your business.
> The past four months have been challenging for everyone, how has UCC coped with the effects of Covid- 19?
UCC responded decisively and quickly to the government’s announcement on the 12 March 2020. It’s a real credit to the university that we were able to pivot to working remotely so effectively.
In UCC Career Services, we have a clear business continuity plan. Our message is: “We are the Difference”.
We are in regular contact with our employers, many of whom are long-standing supporters of UCC, to enable work placements and jobs for our students. My experience has been one of amazing cooperation across the board throughout this testing period.
> Now that the country is reopening, how are UCC Career Services adapting to helping employers find the right candidates for their vacancies?
Work placements are a highly beneficial experience for everyone. For employers, it’s the opportunity to develop their talent pipeline. For our students, it’s a great way to get a real taste of the recruitment process. In fact, around 50 per cent of our students go back to the employers who gave them their work placement. Our work placement programme is embedded into the academic life of the university. The best students are attracted to our courses because placement and future careers are at the heart of the academic experience from the outset.
The second area where we assist employers is in our graduate recruitment, enabling them to secure the very best graduates for their companies. UCC Career Services makes sure that the process is very straightforward, personable and professional for all.
> What does the recruitment experience look like for the coming months in UCC?
We’ve carefully planned our response to Covid-19 and for the months ahead in line with the university’s business continuity plan. It’s a stepped approach that blends online with events on campus.
As ever, our staff are always just a phone call or email away. Now, we can also facilitate online recruitment events, webinars, remote interviews and a whole range of other virtual opportunities to help employers raise awareness of their businesses with our students and help everyone through this challenging time.
UCC Career Services have been around for a long time. Over the years, we’ve developed long-standing relationships with our employers. We also know our students very well. Career development is an integral part of their academic course. It’s a developmental approach that nurtures students’ employability skills and graduate attributes from the beginning. It ensures that each individual student grows both academically and as a person during their time with us. It is what makes our students so employable.
> How do I engage with UCC Career Services in UCC to promote my company?
I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all employers to get in touch with us and find out more about the service we offer. We really want to encourage new companies of all sizes to come on board with us.
We’re here to help you develop your network and brand awareness on campus, and make introductions to colleagues across the university. We will ensure that your company is an integral part of the employment journey for our students.
If you would like to work with UCC to discuss your graduate recruitment needs or work placement opportunities, contact: https://www.ucc.ie/careers/employers
