WIT News

BBS update 15 Dec Posted: Mon, December 14, 2009

Note that we will not be scheduling interviews during the exams. 

For our latest statistics, follow this link.  Note that the 'CV sent' column indicates how many CVs were sent to prospective employers and some CVs have been sent to more than one employer. 

4 jobs were secured last week at VHI (2), Genzyme (1) and Woodpecker Energy (1).  Well done to the students obtaining these positions.

There are CVs out with 10 companies at the moment.  

Interviews were held last week for Zurich Insurances and Clonmel Healthcare (Stada).  Zurich hope to hire 4 students eventually.  Clonmel Healthcare informed us that they are interviewing students from other colleges at the moment.  .

Our next report will be issued on Monday January 4th.

Opportunities
ESB has an opening for a student in Dublin.  The full job description is on the board near the work placement office.  You need good IT skills.  Assisting with Networks Projects finance duties, the job involves monthly reports, improving the monthly reports process, month-end journals, financial aspects of project reporting, some forecasting and budgeting, monthly reconciliations etc.  We need to send CVs by the end of the week – please let Annette know at D18 or 306153 or bbsplacement@wit.ie if you want your CV sent. 

Unpaid Internships/placement:  The experience gained in work placement is the most important aspect of the placement from your career’s perspective; whether the placement position is paid or unpaid is not relevant.  So over the Christmas break you may want to send your CV or bring your CV to the HR department of the local Town, City or County Council or Government Offices.  Many of them are under-staffed as they have had retirements but can’t replace departing staff due to hiring freeze.  Most of them would welcome students to come and work for six months, but they will not be able to put you on their payroll.  You may want to have a copy of the leaflet explaining the work placement programme with you – this can be found with the documents on the placement website <BBS> or <BAFS>.    

Hereunder are some unpaid work placement positions open at the moment:

• Waterford County Council in Dungarvan may have some placements for a six month period.  If you are interested (all streams) let us know and we will send your CV to them. 
• Waterford Credit Union has an intern position available from January to the end of June.  Website:  http://www.waterfordcu.ie/
• Wexford Opera House has a marketing opening for a student.  Details of the position are on the work placement board.  Let us know if you want to apply for this position and we shall send your CV. 
• Co. Wexford VEC has an opening for a General Administrative Assistant, working closely with and under the direction of the Senior Staff Officer with responsibilities for assisting with bank lodgements and reconciliations, preparing regular reports, analysing spending, paying creditors, preparing for annual audit etc.  Description on the work placement notice board.
• Arklow Business Enterprise Centre has vacancies for two Marketing Assistant positions. These are non-paying internships.  One student should be marketing based and ideally another student who would have strong web skills.  This is an excellent opportunity for students to develop great relationships and gain a wealth of experience.  See detailed job description on work placement board.  The duties are wide-ranging.   Applicants should have strong communication skills and excellent written, oral and computer skills.  Description on the work placement notice board.

Let us know at bbsplacement@wit.ie if you want your CV sent to any of these companies. 

If you have secured a placement position yourself you should let Annette Toms know at bbsplacement@wit.ie . 

BBS3 Work Placement 2009/10 – Reminders!

We would like to remind you that the final responsibility for getting you a position rests with you.  We can provide you with a leaflet of introduction to give with your CV to prospective employers in the locations of your choice.  The jobs market is much tougher this year than prior years and we may not be able to get everyone a job at this stage.

Preferences:  Note that you can change your location preferences for work placement (as per your Student Response Form) at any time – call into Annette.

If you are thinking of changing to College and Community, the contact person is Corinne Power-O’Mahony: CPower-OMahony@wit.ie  Note that if you switch to college and community before Christmas early you may have a choice as to what community project you end up doing.  If you wait until January 11 (start of semester 2) then you may be given a project without a choice.

Interview clothes

We remind you to have your interview clothes always available in Waterford so that you are available for interview at short notice.  We try to give as much notice as possible but sometimes this is not possible.

Check e-mails and Website

Again we remind you to check your e-mail at least twice daily and check the website regularly in case e-mails are not getting through to you.  We are sending e-mails to your WIT e-mail address only. Check your text messages regularly and respond immediately.   You may miss out on a possible interview should you fail to do so.

Phase-over Plan – next few weeks:
Decision Date:  Monday January 11 is the last day for you to make a decision on what you are going to do during the flexible term.  If you do not have a work placement position on that date you need to let us know what other option you are taking; you will need to return to college on Monday January 11 and start attending flexible semester lectures for new venture initiative or college and community.  If we do not hear from you by that date we will assume you have opted for college and community.  We strongly suggest that you investigate either a work placement or a college and community project in your local area over the Christmas shut-down period. 

Last Day for interviews:   There will be no interviews conducted after Friday 8th January unless the interview was arranged prior to January 8th.  We will continue trying to find placement jobs up to that date.  You will need to keep checking your e-mails over the holiday season and through to January 8th.   There may be jobs posted and interviews arranged during the holiday period.   We will continue to issue this update to you and you should continue to access the work placement website.

Note that we will not be scheduling interviews during the exam week. 

The work placement team wishes you all the best of luck with your exams and offers you and your families our best wishes for a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and for a successful new year in your flexible semester positions!