Pitman Training have called on graduates to embrace a unique opportunity to participate on the National Internship Scheme whilst gaining highly practical, employer-friendly skills through flexible training programmes.
Pitman Training have come out in firm support of the new National Internship Scheme, and are encouraging graduates to take the unique opportunity the programme presents to gain valuable experience. The nationwide training organisation recently called on the government to support and encourage more practical training programmes that can deliver the real skills they claim employers are still finding difficult to find. The organisation are now advising participants of the Internship Scheme to also take a closer look at their skills, not just the qualifications, gained from college.
Spokesperson for Pitman Training in Ireland, Tomás Finneran, explained the benefits of taking this approach. “Many of those who are considering taking up a position with a company through the National Internship Scheme are forgetting to use their time on the programme to maximise their employability.”
“Employers will make their decision to hire based on three key areas: Attitude, Experience and Skills. Presuming you have the right attitude, and that the Internship will deliver six to nine months relevant industry experience, the obvious gap remains. Employers are crying out for highly practical and productive skills from their new recruits. Centres such as Pitman Training have a range of relevant courses which are run in part-time, full-time and flexible formats that allow individuals to train and gain these skills.”
The economic downturn has resulted in reduced opportunities for employment, and the team at Pitman Training centres located at the Genesis Business College centres in Carlow, Gorey, Kilkenny and Wexford are working closely with those looking to up-skill to help them find employment through training programmes, job seeking skills, as well as CV and Interview skills support.
Sandra Killeen, Senior Course Advisor at the centres explained how choosing the right training course is critical, “We are telling our students that their aim should always be to get their CV to the top of the pile. It’s true that employers are being bombarded with applications as soon as they advertise a vacancy. However, this shouldn’t mean there is less of a chance of getting called for an interview.”
“The vast majority of applicants lack the relevant skills and experience to compose appropriate and effective job applications. We work closely with every student to ensure they get the exact skills employers need whilst providing coaching in job-seeking skills, so that their applications are flawless. Over 69% of our 2010 graduates found employment after finishing their course - that’s higher than any other training institution in Ireland!”
Over 1,100 students trained at Pitman Training Centres in Ireland last year, and they have delivered some of the most impressive employment statistics in Ireland for their graduates.
Sandra highlighted the success that Pitman Training has had in the South EAst. “Since opening our first centre in 2001, we have demonstrated that when individuals have the skills employers want, the jobs are there. Employers are calling our centres every week looking for students who can hit the ground running. Good computer skills, the latest Microsoft packages, Irish-specific bookkeeping, Medical Secretary skills - these are the types of skills that local employers still need. Remember, to compete for these jobs, job-seekers need those practical, employer-friendly skills.”
Pitman Training are currently enrolling for their September training programmes. Over 100 courses are available in Microsoft Office, Administration, Secretarial, Web-Design, Accounts and Business IT as well as a comprehensive range of IT professional training programmes. For more information or to secure your place, contact your local centre in the South EAst at 1800 532632 or online at www.pitman-training.ie
About Pitman Training
The Pitman Training name has been synonymous with quality training for generations starting out with one shorthand school in 1870. Today, Pitman Training is unique in being not only the oldest and longest running independent training organisation, but also for having one of the largest networks of training centres in the world. There are more than 100 Pitman Training Centres all over the UK, Ireland and the Middle East, training over 50,000 people every year.
In fact, Pitman Training is now the largest independent training network in Ireland offering local solutions to businesses and individuals alike. The organisation offers a choice of training options including full and part-time courses both at their centre and from home using their unique home-study system.
There are currently 15 Pitman Training centres across Ireland; in Dublin and in towns such as Dundalk, Galway, Gorey, Mullingar, Sligo, Kilkenny, Cork and Wexford. In 1992, Pitman Training launched a programme to expand its training network given the demand for highly practical career-based skills, a sector that the Institutes of Technology and Universities were struggling to address. Since then, Pitman Training has grown steadily to a network of over 100 locations throughout Ireland and the UK. The first Pitman Training Centre in Ireland opened its doors in Dublin in 1994.
As well as an ever-expanding range of courses for business, ICT and professionals, Pitman Training have developed their services further having gained FETAC accreditation for Quality Assured programme delivery. Another expanding market for Pitman Training is the move towards online and home-study training with more and more Pitman Training courses available online. Training Centres can therefore continue to deliver courses to individuals no matter where they are located.
About National Internship Scheme
JobBridge is a new National Internship Scheme that will provide work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period.
The aim of the National Internship Scheme is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. The scheme will also give people a real opportunity to gain valuable experience to bridge the gap between study and the beginning of their working lives.
The scheme will provide for up to 5,000 work experience placements in the private, public and voluntary sectors. This will be a time-limited scheme. Interns will receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement. This will be payable for the period of the internship.