Virtual Careers Fair opens for jobseekers

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Visit the Virtual Careers Fair here

Thousands of graduates and other job-seekers are expected to tap into a new tech-savvy way of finding career opportunities which was launched by the Connacht-Ulster Alliance on Monday.

The CU Alliance is a strategic partnership of three Institutes of Technology – Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny and Sligo – who are committed to achieving the criteria for designation as a Technological University.

They are holding an internet based “Virtual Careers Fair” which will provide “visitors” with real time fingertip access to “exhibitor” companies without even having to step outside home, college or workplace.

It is expected that up to 200 companies will register as exhibitors. The Fair runs until December 19.

The use of the technology was successfully pioneered by IT Sligo earlier this year. Subsequently, the CU Alliance decided on a joint event so as to expand its impact.

The Fair creates a “virtual city” with districts accommodating a range of industry sectors, including, science, technology, computing, business and engineering.

It is aimed at graduates, third-level students and other job seekers. Anyone anywhere can “enter the city” by using the internet.

Participation is free of charge to users and companies due to the project’s sponsorship by the recruitment and HR services company Collins McNicholas, which has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo and Athlone.

Careers advisers from the Institutes were among those who attended the launch at the Castlebar campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

It was performed by Mr Niall Murray, general manager, Collins McNicholas, representing the companies taking part, and Mr Gordon Ryan, Head of Development, IT Sligo, representing the Institutes.

By using a mobile phone, tablet or other device, individuals can “walk around the city”, trawl the exhibitors’ virtual stands, arrange one-to-one webchat with company representatives, upload CVs, build networking personal profile and add audio or visual content.

It is an opportunity also for companies to interact with potential new recruits and assess the overall knowledge and personal qualities of people who are about to enter the jobs market.

Niall Murray said: “Collins McNicholas has a long association with the Institutes of Technology and we are delighted to sponsor this innovative project which harnesses the power of technology for job seeking graduates. Our regional offices in Galway and Sligo are fully committed to supporting this project which we hope will be an annual Flagship Event for the West.”

Gordon Ryan said: “We estimate that we’ll have around 200 companies taking part and we’re expecting about 10,000 unique visitors to the ‘virtual city’. This is an excellent example of collaboration by the Connacht-Ulster Alliance in providing graduates and job seekers in general with high quality information and valuable access to leading companies.”

Participant registration http://cuacareersfair.prospects.ac.uk/fairs/2014/splash.html

Exhibitor registration  http://employer.cuacareersfair.prospects.ac.uk

Full details are also available via www.itsligo.ie/careers

Virtual Careers Fair Launch

Pictured at the launch of the Virtual Careers Fair in Castlebar (L-R):
Fiona O’Donnell, GMIT; Michelle Murphy, Collins McNicholas, Galway; Antoinette O’Flaherty, Collins McNicholas, Sligo; Catherine Lyster, Letterkenny IT; Niall Murray, Collins McNicholas, Sligo; Gordon Ryan, IT Sligo; Brendan McCormack, Connacht-Ulster Alliance; Anne Marie McCormack, Connacht-Ulster Alliance; Deborah Seddon, IT Sligo; Michelle Kerins O’Brien, GMIT; Bridie Killoran, GMIT; Niall McEvoy, IT Sligo; and Adette Ring, IT Sligo.
Photo : Keith Heneghan / Phocus.