- 2,500 people attend annual Graduate Fair
- Recruiters looking favourably on ‘mature’ applicants
- Nursing and teaching amongst most popular options
- Franciscan Order promote ‘less materialistic’ lifestyle
Opportunities for more “mature” employees and information about teaching jobs abroad were among the most popular attractions at the annual Graduate Fair at IT Sligo (today).
An estimated 2,500 people, including students, graduates, recently unemployed and those contemplating emigration, thronged the Fair.
Adette Ring Careers Officer at IT Sligo said that the 48 exhibitors, who included recruitment companies, education providers, professional bodies and local and multi-national companies were offering a combined total of 350 job opportunities at the fair, including full-time positions, internships and places on graduate programmes.
“There seems to be a surge in interest in more traditional careers such as nursing and teaching, possibly because parents see them as being secure,” said Ring. She said that British colleges who provide teacher training programmes were inundated with queries as was international educational body Sabis who were providing information about teaching opportunities in Dubai and Oman.
Among the exhibitors were multi nationals Abbott Ireland, Intel and Ericsson, a number of third level institutions in the Republic, Northern Ireland and Britain and several local companies keen to gauge the availability of graduates in marketing, business, software development and the hospitality sector.
The Franciscan Order also availed of the opportunity to encourage people towards a less materialistic lifestyle. Brother Pat Lynch Director of Vocations in Ireland said he was delighted with the number of queries received. “It’s very important to be out there – we also attended the National Ploughing Championships this year,” said the vocations director. He said that three men aged 29 to 38 had entered the Order this year, one an artist, another a qualified engineer and the third a former paramedic.
“One of the busiest stands this year was the USIT stand where students were told that it’s possible to get valuable work experience abroad, and not just washing dishes or working in bars,” said Ring.
“Many of the multi nationals here are looking for recruits across all disciplines – software development, marketing business and science”.
Companies are increasingly interested in attracting more mature students, according to Ring. “Contrary to the perception many employers like the idea of recruiting people over 40 because they are dependable and won’t be ringing in sick on Monday morning,” said the Careers Officer.
