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The very mention of the words ‘assessment centre’ can conjure up images in people’s minds of graduates battling against each other with the sole survivor rewarded with a contract. This perception is far removed from the ordered, participative nature of assessment centres.

There’s a lot of uncertainty that comes with a new job, especially when it is your first job. You’ll encounter new people, a new environment and a new set of responsibilities. We’ve put together a few tips to guide you through your first milestones in your career. Success during the early stages of a job is about balance – you want to make great first impressions, but you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to get everything right. The goal is to learn about your new workplace and find your place within it.

Amy Ní Chuinneagáin is working as part of the Operations Development Programme at AbbVie. She completed an ME in Biomedical Engineering with University College Dublin and graduated in 2019. On 28 April this year she was named gradireland Graduate Employee of the Year at the 2022 gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards.

The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the way we work, working remotely for a few days a week has become very commonplace. The declining use of office environments – a trend that was picking up steam even before the pandemic – has become the norm for the majority of the working population for whom remote and hybrid working is now a reality.

Every interview will include challenging questions, you will have to think on your feet in order to react to questions you didn’t expect. Of course, some of these questions are well known to be common in interview situations, but you will still need to come up with accurate and composed responses.

Employers use psychometric tests to help them find the best person for the job. Aptitude and ability tests show whether a candidate has the necessary skills to perform the job – or the potential to learn new skills. Personality tests find out whether a candidate’s character suits the position.

The interview today is less of an event, and much more of a process. It’s highly unlikely to consist of just one interview, more likely a series of screening interviews, followed by first and second interviews. Let’s see what some of the different interview types are.

While most interviews traditionally started with the shaking of hands and a ‘how are you?’, today they frequently commence with everyone asking, ‘can you hear me?’. Regardless of whether your interview is remote or in person, there are still plenty of tips and advice you can use to make sure that you prepare for an interview you give yourself the best chance of succeeding.

Do you see a future working in Ireland after completing your studies? If so, you may be able to stay here and work after you graduate. Let’s see what’s involved.

Trying to find a new job is almost a full-time job, as it takes hard work, time and commitment to succeed. So, the last thing you want to do is to send out hundreds of CVs to employers and wait for a reply that may never come. It’s important that you are organised and know how to go about your search.

A properly submitted application form will get you off on the right foot in the job selection process; a poorly completed one will ensure that your application doesn’t get past the first hurdle. Follow our advice to stay in the race for your dream job.