LETTERKENNY, CO. DONEGAL, IRELAND – Senior-cycle students from Mulroy College in Milford got a glimpse of the business world this month when Pramerica Systems Ireland, a software and contact centre subsidiary of U.S.-based Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) [NYSE:PRU], opened its doors once again to give them a guided tour of the facility and some insight into the many career opportunities that exist in the information technology and financial services industries. The initiative is part of The Schools’ Business Partnership’s “Skills @ Work Programme,” which is managed by Business in the Community Ireland to encourage students to remain in school.
“We’re delighted to welcome students from Mulroy College to our campus. This is a great way for them to make the connection between education and future opportunity. It exposes them to career possibilities, opens their eyes to what various jobs entail and gives them educational goals,” said Martin Davies, a lead specialist platform engineer at Pramerica.
Feedback from students indicates that the workplace visit is one of the highlights of the Skills@Work programme. In addition to familiarizing them with the corporate environment, the programme also helps students better understand important skills such as workplace etiquette and expected behaviour in a professional environment, one of the major adjustments needed in moving from school to the work world. In turn, employees at participating companies say the programme improves their listening, communication and interpersonal skills.
In addition to the site visit, The Skills@Work programme provides CV workshops, ‘A Day in the Life’ talks, mock interviews, company overviews and interview skill techniques.
“The Pramerica tour really brought what the students have learned to life. The employees went to significant effort to make the experience as informative and enjoyable as possible,” said Catherine Crawford, a careers guidance teacher from Mulroy College.
Funded under the National Development Plan, The Schools’ Business Partnership (SBP) matched 200 post primary schools in Ireland with a local business by 2015.
