Graduate Careers IE - Q3 2022

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Q3 2022 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content

A Mediaplanet campaign focused on

Graduate Careers

“In terms of what graduates identify as their personal values: continuous improvement and learning were the most important, followed by integrity and honesty, passion and enthusiasm and ambition and drive.”

“Ireland has one of the most educated populations in the world. We need to strengthen the impact of education by connecting more closely to skills needs.”

Ruairi Kavanagh, Editor, gradireland

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

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Career growth challenges for students and graduates in uncertain times As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, we look at what trends are emerging from students and graduates.

E Ruairi Kavanagh Editor, gradireland

ach year, up to 20,000 students from all over Ireland — north and south — take part in our student survey. The results are released each year in our publication: Ireland’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers.

The survey takes a look at which employers students want to work for and ranks them accordingly. We’ll be releasing the list in early October. The survey tells us about much more than just employers. It reveals insights into what students and graduates value in terms of career objectives.

Job or further study After graduating, most students and graduates are looking for full-time jobs. This was the most popular choice by far, followed by a graduate scheme in second place. Postgraduate study was next, followed by taking a gap year or a year out.

Postgraduate study has rebounded strongly amidst the pandemic, as employment opportunities took a heavy hit. In terms of why students decide to take further study, most are doing it to bolster their career prospects, followed by those who view it as vital training for their chosen career.

Survey insights In terms of what graduates identify Salary results Postgraduate study has as their personal values: continuous For salary expectations, the average improvement and learning were the that graduates expect to earn now rebounded strongly amidst most important, followed by integrity the pandemic, as employment stands at just below €35,000. The and honesty, passion and enthusiasm opportunities took a heavy hit. average that employers expect and ambition and drive. to pay is in the region of €31,700, When it comes to what they expect which highlights the gap between in their graduate job; interesting work, good career expectations when it comes to salary. prospects, training and development, work-life balance In our most recent gradireland Graduate Salary and and job security were the most important elements.

Graduate Recruitment Trends Survey, less than half of Interestingly, salary was not in the top ten priorities. employers felt that graduates were realistic with pay.

Status/prestige was judged to be the least important Most graduate recruits expect to earn at least between element. This feeds into the trend for students and €25,000 and €30,000 in their first graduate role. graduates to value employers that they relate to and Moreover, 35% of them expect to earn above €35,000. which align with their values. This is good news for companies that prioritise culture and collaboration.

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Contact information: uk.info@mediaplanet.com or +44 (0) 203 642 0737

The full results of the gradireland Student Survey will be released in early October 2022.

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Business Development Manager: Lucy Harris lucy.harris@mediaplanet.com Managing Director: Alex Williams Head of Ireland: Ross Bannatyne | Head of Print & Design: Thomas Kent Designer: Aimee Rayment Content Editor: Angelica Hackett O’Toole | Head of Digital: Harvey O’Donnell Paid Media Strategist: Jonni Asfaha Social & Web Editor: Henry Phillips Digital Assistant: Carolina Galbraith Duarte | All images supplied by Gettyimages, unless otherwise specified

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Graduates bring growth potential and new skills to the workplace Company graduate schemes are helping students kickstart their careers by enabling them to apply and develop their skills in the workplace environment.

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Sinead O’Dwyer Talent Acquisition and Employer Brand Lead, PepsiCo

tudents can learn more about core career roles in a range of disciplines and business teams. As talented young people become immersed in organisations, companies also benefit from the next generation skills and viewpoints they bring with them.

Different departments In Ireland, PepsiCo’s graduate programme is a two-year rotational plan, with the exception of finance, which is three years so that graduates gain relevant accountancy qualifications.

All receive on-the-job training, an assigned manager and a mentor, with rotations aligned to their skill set and foundational experiences.

“They also get hands-on exposure across different departments.

We also have online, project and classroom learning for graduates,” says Sinead O’Dwyer, who is Talent Acquisition and Employer Brand Lead at PepsiCo.

Flexible approach The multinational company, which employs more than 1,000 people across Ireland, underlines the importance of a flexible approach to ensure graduates are on the best career path before applying for permanent or extended contract positions.

O’Dwyer explains how graduate programmes also have benefits for employers.“The digital skills they possess, for example, are important as we are on a digital journey,” she says. “What they contribute really accelerates our growth potential.”

Sustainable values Underpinned by the pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) initiative, they cover areas such as how ingredients are sourced or products sold, helping build a circular and inclusive value chain and inspiring people to ‘make choices that are positive to the planet.’

The company has a strong diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda and encourages ‘people

to be themselves’ in the workplace.

Several graduates have become long-term employees, while a trend of ‘boomerang’ employees (returning to the company after having left to work elsewhere) is emerging.

Global opportunities Along with additional support, a mentoring app allows graduates to express their preferences or seek mentors from the company’s global network.

O’Dwyer says: “I think we’re good at listening to our graduates. We have development conversations about what they are looking for, where they are best placed in business and how we can match their career aspirations with what we need.”

Finance Controls and Reporting graduate, Aimee Teegan, says: “The PepsiCo grad programme has given me amazing opportunities to increase my understanding of the business in both the finance department and the wider business.”

Should graduates move to a permanent role within PepsiCo, as many have, they get the opportunity to work anywhere in the world for the company.

Paid for by PepsiCo

Read more at pepsico.com

In terms of why students decide to take further study, most are doing it to bolster their career prospects, followed by those who view it as vital training for their chosen career. ~Ruairi Kavanagh, Editor, gradireland

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Connecting education with future skills Education reforms will deliver solutions for current and future challenges.

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reland has one of the most educated populations in the world. We need to strengthen the impact of education by connecting more closely to skills needs. This talent will see us overcome the ongoing challenges of digitalisation and climate breakdown. We will be better positioned to meet global disruptions such as the invasion of Ukraine and humanitarian response as well as the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Simon Harris Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Developing skills for life Later this year, I will bring proposals to the Government on how Ireland can increase its participation in lifelong learning. We are creating a system that works for every student and worker who might wish to continue their education and develop new skills.

Employers and public services need people who are reskilling and upskilling to meet the challenges of digitalisation and climate breakdown.

One of my priorities is to put structures and supports in place so that workers can upskill and employers can benefit. Our new Pact for Skills will achieve just that.

Unified third level education Third level has a place for everyone.

But not everyone thinks they can get the qualification they want or need without attending university.

New investment in further education We are changing this through a The infrastructure available to programme of reform and a €307 many further education colleges is million package. not reflective of the We are creating hugely important more pathways role that it plays in for young people skills development Employers and public leaving school or and nourishing services need people people returning individuals to to education. We reach their who are reskilling and are joining the full potential. upskilling to meet the dots between This year, we challenges of digitalisation have started to all training centres, colleges, change that, with and climate breakdown. universities and the announcement research labs in of a multimillionthe country. euro capital investment into 13 projects across the country. From There is a route for everyone new classrooms to labs to facilities That’s why we are working with all across the colleges. This is only the partners in third level education beginning. Under the Government’s to build a system where there are National Development Plan, there pathways from the local college to is more to come. the regional university or one of the Reforming policies towards a five new technological universities better system, delivering lifelong across the country. learning that works for employers We have reformed the third level and students, and investing in application process so that now, facilities. These are just some of the for the first time, students can see ways we are connecting education CAO and further education and with future skills to deliver apprenticeship options on the same solutions for the challenges now webpage. We have big plans to and into the future. drive forward reforms so that third level is open to everyone to get the education they desire, to meet the skills employers want and what we need as a country to prosper.

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How to prepare graduates for the dynamic future of work The world of work is changing. Globalisation, digitalisation and the adoption of new technologies are transforming not only the jobs we do but also how, when and where we work.

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o prepare for the future of work, graduates will need to build their employability and lifelong learning skills to thrive in workplaces that are both more exciting and unpredictable.

Developing ‘T-shaped graduates’ Covid-19 has demonstrated how quickly the world of work is transforming, often unpredictably and at a faster pace than can be planned. Transformation is coming so quickly that the majority of students in our primary schools today will work in careers that are yet to be invented.

To prepare graduates for the future of work, they need to be equipped with the skills to build resilience to uncertainty and facilitate smoother career transitions. The Government, educators and employers need to work together to foster the development of ‘T-shaped graduates’ who have a broad foundation of employability skills in addition to deep subject matter expertise.

A broad spectrum of skills Employability skills will be required by almost everyone to do almost every job. Graduates can expect to work in diverse teams requiring robust communication, teamwork and leadership skills. To resolve complex challenges around issues such as the climate crisis and sustainability, employers need workers with strong creativity, critical thinking and problemsolving skills.

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Meadhbh Costello Policy Executive, Ibec

Personal leadership skills including the ability to self-reflect, deal with ambiguities and act autonomously will be much-needed to navigate and advance in rapidly shifting economies. By engaging more students in problem-based learning and work experience, they will be better prepared to join the workforce and tackle real-life problems.

Lifelong learning Developing graduates with curious minds, a thirst for knowledge and an appreciation for learning is one of the biggest successes that our education system can achieve. After all, the rate of change in society today means that the skills a graduate leaves education with no longer last a lifetime.

We must ensure that everyone can engage in learning throughout their careers. This can only be achieved by making space for innovation in the education system and embedding flexible pathways for learning including part-time courses, microcredentials and online learning.

In the coming years, we will continue to see the workplace transform in unexpected and exciting ways. Developing employability skills and a passion for lifelong learning are not only important for supporting graduates in transitioning to the workplace but these skills will also form the bedrock for success throughout their careers.

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