DBS Careers Service has been in operation nearly as long as the college has been in existence- over 42 years! Through a combination of workshops, one-to-one advice and employer events, the dedicated careers team help students to focus their ambitions on realistic career goals. One of their specialities is matching prospective employees with suitable companies.
One such company is IT Force. Based in Dublin 2, they work with clients across a range of sectors to improve business processes. They use technology, including unified communications, IT mobility and cloud computing, to identify how it can be applied to improve business processes while simultaneously reducing costs for their clients.
DBS and IT Force have been working together for some time, and IT Force regularly facilitate work experience for students of our ICT Skills programmes. Two such students are John Canning and Peter Callanan, who both studied the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (IT Infrastructure and Networking) at DBS. Both John and Peter have since become employed on a full-time basis at IT Force.
We sat down with Roisin Cahill, Chief Operations Officer at IT Force and asked her a few questions about their business, and what they look for in graduates who are seeking employment.
How did your relationship with DBS begin?
We were approached by Rachel from the Careers Team at DBS a number of years ago, and asked if we would be willing to provide work experience opportunities for students of ICT programmes. We are always on the lookout for new talent, so we were more than willing to take on some interns and give them a chance in our business.
What attracts you to DBS graduates?
To be honest it was the programmes that the students were coming from that interested us most. The specific courses which we got students from were the ICT Skills programmes, which were being offered as part of the Government-led Springboard+ initiative. The course is a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing and the streams include Software Development, IT Infrastructure & Networking or Web & Cloud Technologies, all of which are extremely relevant to our business. The DBS students that we have worked with have all proven themselves to be well informed, knowledgeable and more importantly, eager to learn.
What does a DBS graduate bring to your organisation?
They really bring a fresh energy to the business. They are so hungry for knowledge, and they challenge the existing staff, they are constantly looking for economies in our work practices, which is fantastic.
What key skills do you look out for in graduates?
Everyone who asks me this question expects me to say something like problem solving skills, as that would seem most pertinent to our business. However, for me, the most important skill I seek is communication, followed closely by attitude and motivation. These are innate skills that simply cannot be taught, and they are what make the most successful employees stand out from the crowd. The programmes at DBS incorporate a section about communication, and its critical role in any work environment, and that is another reason why we keep fostering this partnership.
Will you hire more DBS graduates in the future?
Absolutely, we are in regular contact with the Careers Department, and have already expressed an interest in the next batch of graduates coming out of the ICT programmes!
Thanks for your time Roisin!
If you are an employer and would like to tell us about your experience working with DBS graduates click here.