Export Orientation Programme

Sabre0001

Was accepted into this but not fully sure what it's like! Have heard nothing on the jobs front yet anyway but just wondering if anyone has any experience of it - good or bad - or if anyone else is in the programme?

Suaimhneach

My friend got a job through IBEC / this graduate programme, and thus far, bar one annoying bossy interviewer she's having the time of her life. Though I suppose like with all jobs, its circumstantial.... where you go, who you work with, etc!

Good luck, let us know how you get on!

More info here: http://www.ibec.ie/eop

The Export Orientation Programme is Ireland’s longest-running and most successful graduate placement programme. The EOP allows Irish exporting companies to develop their international marketing and export capacity and provides recent graduates of all disciplines with a valuable introduction to international business. The programme offers graduates a unique opportunity to develop practical skills and to gain hands-on experience in a fast-moving business environment.

Buzz Buzz

Had got called for an interview in June, dont know why I fitted that particular profile as the company was very manufacturing/engineering based and my cv is far more fashion and marketing.

Anyways, have another interview this coming wk... seriously reputable company and great location in Europe... should be interesting!

Everyone on the EOP team seems sound to deal with.

Suaimhneach

Best of luck Buzz Buzz! Can be daunting going into it but so worthwhile!

veggie111

I'm on the panel and havent been called for an interview yet, starting to wonder will I get one now

Sabre0001

veggie111 wrote: »

I'm on the panel and havent been called for an interview yet, starting to wonder will I get one now

Please don't!!! I'm also in the same boat - one of the reasons why I started this thread!

Got paranoid over Summer because I signed the Charter and sent it back...Got an e-mail weeks later saying that I had not sent it in and that I must do by x. So did again....Time passed, no word of anything - interview or otherwise - so sent an e-mail just to check they received it this time...They did.

But still waiting on interview

veggie111

that's weird. althought they did say you could be on it for a year ... and with the economy the way it is ... few of my friends have interviews and have heard of others who got jobs already. they dont really stay in touch that often though.

HP44

I'm part of this programme too. I had my first and only interview last month. Went very well, but there was 8+ candidates and apparently there was someone who "suited the company better". The interview was good experience though, and the individual feedback from the EOP programme was helpful, that said, if you get rejected it's worthwhile calling up the EOP office and asking for specific feedback.

I was beginning to get worried since I've only had 1 interview and have seen a friend of mine have 4, and has since started a placement. Although this person is a german speaker and german language skills are quite high in demand!

Anyway, I know a few people in the programme, and they in turn know others etc.. , and from what I've heard (bare in mind that this may not be representative of the programme in general), not a huge amount of graduates have been called for interviews or been offered places so far.

Also, as was mentioned below, its a 12 month list and you could be called at any time during that period. You might get 2 next week or none til after xmas. It just depends on what companies come in, what kind of person they are looking for, and when they want graduates. So its all relative to demand. Athough, from what I've heard the EOP people will try and get your CV to as many employers as they can.

Also, as far a I know, you can defer yourself for one year if you want, or I've heard that you can freeze yourself on the list for a month or two if you find something else, need to make some money, get offered an internship or want to go abroad to brush up on your language skills or even do some travelling. I'm not sure on the details and it would be wise to ring up yourself to get advice or proper details
Anyway, the EOP coordinators seems very helpful if you have any questions so it might be a good idea if to give them a shout if your having any doubts or are worried about getting a place.

Esse85

If anyone else can offer advise/tips on the EOP can you please PM me as i've an interview soon.

Thanks again HP44.

amybabes

hey guys, did an interview for this last month....still waiting to hear if i got on the programme, was one of the first interviewed so was told to expect a 6 week wait! its killing me!
did anyone who was on the EOP last year get a placement?
im half thinking of just going off to oz....is it actually possible to defer your place for a year if you are accepted!!??

any advice/feedback very much appreciated!!

erms

amybabes wrote: »

hey guys, did an interview for this last month....still waiting to hear if i got on the programme, was one of the first interviewed so was told to expect a 6 week wait! its killing me!
did anyone who was on the EOP last year get a placement?
im half thinking of just going off to oz....is it actually possible to defer your place for a year if you are accepted!!??

any advice/feedback very much appreciated!!

I did an EOP placement in 07/08.
You can't defer, you have to reapply the following year.

amybabes

erms wrote: »

I did an EOP placement in 07/08.
You can't defer, you have to reapply the following year.

how did u get on on the EOP, where did you get placed? did u finf the programme worthwhile etc?? making some life changing decisions here at the mo so and aydvice or feedback would be very much appreciated!! thanks a mil

erms

amybabes wrote: »

how did u get on on the EOP, where did you get placed? did u finf the programme worthwhile etc?? making some life changing decisions here at the mo so and aydvice or feedback would be very much appreciated!! thanks a mil

I applied the day of the deadline because a family friend told me to. I went for my interview (I was towards the end of the interview process) and got a letter about 2 weeks later saying I'd made it onto the shortlist.

I went for about 8 or 9 interviews, i sabotaged most of them because they just weren't jobs i wanted to do (a lot of them were meat sales, or molded plastics sales, or high visibility clothing sales). I was then given an interview for a company in London which sounded great and I got it.

So I was in London for a year and I loved it, they wanted me to stay on after my EOP but I wanted to get into a different area so I left but it was a fantastic experience.

If you do make it on to the shortlist, try to be around during the summer because some of the best placements come up in the summer with September starts. That is not to say all, I started mine in December.

Esse85

I heard people will know how the interview went in the first week in May!

amybabes

Esse85 wrote: »

I heard people will know how the interview went in the first week in May!

ya i know!! ive been post watching since tues!! so annoying as if i dont get on d programme im going to oz, ive decided, so just want 2 get on with my planning and book my tickets if i havent gotten it!

Esse85

amybabes wrote: »

ya i know!! ive been post watching since tues!! so annoying as if i dont get on d programme im going to oz, ive decided, so just want 2 get on with my planning and book my tickets if i havent gotten it!

Is it by post?

I presumed it was by email seen as i got the call for the interview by email.

The waiting is a killer alright.

princess*

Has anyone heard anything from IBEC yet??

We were meant to be notified by the first week in May by post..

Stilll waiting

Esse85

Not yet.

shivishivi

I'm still waiting, driving me crazy, thought there was something wrong with my inbox!!! Let me know if you hear anything!

amybabes

got a letter this morning!!!

didnt get it!! but glad coz i didnt want it , word on the street is there was a delay because theres hardly any placements this year!! hardly any of the shortlist got placed last yr either!!

but good luck and well done to those who got it!!

Esse85

+1

princess*

I got on the shortlist!!

Not 100% yet on whether I'll except it though :rolleyes:
especially if there's hardly any placements this year??

Does anyone have any advice??

amybabes

princess* wrote: »

I got on the shortlist!!

Not 100% yet on whether I'll except it though :rolleyes:
especially if there's hardly any placements this year??

Does anyone have any advice??

well if u dont have anything else lined up, id defo accept! sure what harm can it do........but id be trying to find a job anyway, and applying for other things etc. wouldnt let it stop u from doing anything tho!
im after getting a job in sydney myself.......so thats why i didnt want it!

was speaking to someone on it last yr........first interview she was sent to was december (after being on d s.list since may) and she was there with 8 other candidates, 2nd interview was similar...... so she found the whole thing to be pretty useless, plus she had to travel to dublin both times, and didnt get any help with expenses. plus both companies were in areas she had no interest in working in....and one didnt even sound remotely like a sales or marketing position...........so just bear that in mind! but well done in getting in!!

princess*

Thanks for the that

Totally didn't expect to get it, to be honest I thought the interview was a disaster! So I applied for a few masters courses, but they'll always be there I suppose.. If I was offered a placement with a company I liked it would be great experience but It's looking like a very long road at the moment.
Good Luck with the job in Sydney!:D

Gossipgal

Hey Princess, I got accepted into this too, got the letter the other day - was surprised myself cause I didn't know how the interview had gone at all. I emailed them to accept it, cause the way I see it experience with any company in 'today's economic climate' is worthwhile. Jobs are few and far between and any foot in the door is bound to be of some help, even if its only experience at interviews. Don't know anyody who has done the programme but the list of sample companies sounds good.

LittleEve

Good attitude GG
I got accepted on the '08 EOP but also got a good job offer and had to make a decision, v glad in hindsight that i accepted my job, least iv a yr's experience now whereas there's no 100% certainty i would have gotten a job otherwise :eek:

shivishivi

I'm still waiting for a reply!!! Do any of you know of anybody else who is still waiting? I'm abroad at the moment and really anxious to know as it will determine whether or not I accept a job here.

Esse85

Did you ring home to find out, the letter comes in the post.

shivishivi

Ya, I phoned home, nothing!!! Hopefully something will turn up Monday otherwise I'll try and phone them! Need to know because I want to make some plans and the sun here is tempting me to stay on!!:cool:

princess*

Gossipgal wrote: »

Hey Princess, I got accepted into this too, got the letter the other day - was surprised myself cause I didn't know how the interview had gone at all. I emailed them to accept it, cause the way I see it experience with any company in 'today's economic climate' is worthwhile. Jobs are few and far between and any foot in the door is bound to be of some help, even if its only experience at interviews. Don't know anyody who has done the programme but the list of sample companies sounds good.

Thanks GG,
You make some good points,
I've been thinking it over and I really think It's a great opportunity to be given.
Found myself doubting it reading through some posts on here but your positive attitude is inspiring!!:D

Gossipgal

shivishivi - A reason for a letter not arriving could mean that you are on a backburner list. In the letter it said to accept the placement on the list via email before the 21st. If there are people who do not accept, that opens up possibilities for others who nearly made it. Certainly ring them if you want but I would say it could be the week after the 21st before other people hear back. That was the way it was for the Enterprise Ireland Internship. I guess it depends on how long you have to make up your mind on the other job and the prospects there. I guess it might come down to a bird in the hand and two in the bush kind of a scenario - a definite job may be better than the possibility of a better one. Its all down to personal choice though

Princess - I definitely think that it is a good opportunity. Previous people may have been more fussy with regard to the jobs they would take - I am definitely not being fussy. So many graduate programmes have been cancelled and I am thinking that any position I am offered I'll be delighted to get and get from it what I can. I think that its also important not to typecast companies just cause of what they do ie. the way somebody was saying that they were purely manufacturing or meat chilling. I think that the range of roles within companies now means that your ideal job could be one that you would never have thought of, so experience in all areas helps. The fact that this is international is another bonus. That's my view anyway:D

mr_motivator

Hello fellow jobhunters, I have an interview next week for the EOP. Could any of the people who had interviews already give me an indea of what the interview is like, and what to expect? Any help to prepare would be much appreciated. Also I was wondering are all the jobs marketing/sales based?

Gossipgal

Hey Mr. Motivator - is it an interview to get on the shortlist or a company interview? I've only done the shortlist interview and that's not job specific

mr_motivator

Hi Gossipgal, it's the interview with IBEC to get onto the shortlist..

Gossipgal

Well the interview for the shortlist was fairly standard i think. Best advice I could give you would be to know your cv inside out as that was what i was mostly questioned for and have challenges and benefits that arose from all experiences. As well research the programme and have an idea as to what you want to get out of it. THe interview is really short though - 2 people who were both really approachable and easy to talk to.
Best of luck!

mr_motivator

Thanks for the advice gossipgal..doesn't sound too bad!

shivishivi

Missing letter in hand!!! Its a yes . I, like yourselves, have decided to accept. I think its a great opportunity. Keep me informed as to how it goes for you guys!

Gossipgal

Congrats shivishivi! Well done

princess*

Well done Shivishivi!!!!:D

Just a quick question!

You know when you both accepted the place via email did they reply back to ye at all??

Gossipgal

Hey Princess, I was wondering about that myself - they didn't email me back. I think today was the day that we had to email by so they might send out a generic email to all those that accepted after today. That was what I was thinking anyway.

shivishivi

Same here, haven't heard anything!

Gossipgal

Just checking for an update, if anyone has heard back after they sent the email? Was thinking that I would hear early this week

shivishivi

Hi Gossipgal, I haven't heard anything back either Do you have any idea what kind of notice they give if you are called for an interview, as I'm abroad and will have to fly home. :cool:

Gossipgal

Hey, I have no idea what kind of notice they give but I assume you would have enough time to organise travel home, can't see it being last minute! I just really hope there are opportunities with this cause there really are no other programmes happening at home and other than graduate programmes, any jobs are looking for experience. Sure I suppose all we can do is wait and see . . . . with fingers crossed!:(

HP44

I was on last years list, and I decided to accept the chance to carry-over to this years in the interest of seeing what might come up. Last year I had a total of two interviews, one of which I declined to attend for travelling reasons. I had about 9 days notice for the interview, which was fair enough. However, I was suspended from the list until I was in a position to attend all interviews. Which was just for a few weeks.

Anyway, over the 12 months of the list I had two interview offers. One in sept which went well, but I was beaten to it. The other in oct,which I declined to attend was for a job completly different from my background and language skills. My background isn't in marketing, but I'm strong on languages.

From two friends in the programme who've had different experiences it's hard to say how successful you might be. One guy had 5 interviews before mid July, and 3 job offers and finally took up a place in Germany and is having a fantastic experience. His background is similar to mine, but as German speaker he was in high demand. Although budget cuts in his (large multinational) Irish company means he won't be kept on. Nor will the other EOPs in that company.

My other friend, a very competent and multilingual character had 6 interviews between June-August with weeks of waiting for responses, all of which were negative. She eventually deffered for the year.

I myself have an interview this week for a very appealing position. Being offered the position will leave me in the quite the quandry in having to reconsider plans already made and other opportunities secured.

Anyway, all in all, from feedback over the grapevine last year, on one hand, not many people I knew of got a position, and some had little or no interviews at all.
On the other hand, some people got nabbed straight after the list went live and had numerous interviews. Depends on how your application looks I suppose.

A career guidance councillor in my college mentioned that the big companies come in first and interview as many as they can and try and pick the best candidates first, and that after sept, it's slim pickings. In my experience, I heard nothing until august-sept. Then after sept, nothing until I was put onto this years list just a couple of weeks back. However By november 08 I had long forgotten about EOP.

Summed up.. Great potential! but absolutely not something you should rely rely on and no garantees of placement, don't hang around too long waiting for interviews. As someone mentioned earlier, it was December before they heard anything.

Gossipgal

Thanks for that HP44. I think my enthusiasm for the programme has waned a little bit as I haven't heard anything yet but I think its good to have your eggs in a few baskets in today's job market. Really have no idea what I'll be doing in September if anything at all but am open to anything.
Best of luck with the interviews!

shivishivi

Have had two interviews so far and was just offered a job. I’m undecided as to whether to accept or not as although the position sounds very interesting and is related to my experience and studies I am afraid that a more interesting opportunity with better future prospects might arise, still I’m concerned about taking a chance as I may not be called for another interview! Is it worth risking? Any advice?

Gossipgal

Hey Shivishivi. Congratulations! Have to admit I'm jealous, haven't been called for any interviews at all. Sounds like you're doing really well. I think the fact that I haven't been called for interview would have to influence my advice in that I would say you should take the opportunity. Like you say, you don't know when the next interview will come round.
I would say that there would be no harm in talking to the eop people. They might be able to give you some indication as to any other potential companies that have approached them, that may be in line with your interests. They could also maybe put you in touch with someone who has also done placement with the company that has offered you the position. Talking to someone that has already completed it, might be able to help you make your decision.
Once again congratulations and best of luck!;)

shivishivi

Thanks Gossipgirl, I’m thinking of taking your advice and just going for it! Just to let you know, my interviews have been for a specific market where language skills are a definite advantage so I would imagine that is why I have been lucky so far. It’s still early so I’m sure you’ll be called for an interview soon. Stay positive, let me know how it goes

becks0512

Hi, got onto graduate programme in May 09. Just wondering if anyone has had or got called for an interview yet?

Gossipgal

Hey Becks, I'm on the list as well but haven't heard anything from them regarding any interviews or that. Got an email about a postgrad course last week and that was the only contact I've had since I sent an email accepting the placement on the list. Another person who was on here has been interviewed a couple of times and has been offered a job shivishi I think? Comments should be above. My courses would be quite general and it might be the case that only specific business are hiring. I've had a job offer in the mean time from a company that I found myself that I'm accepting cause there doesn't seem to be much on this. It is a year long list as well and I don't want to wait for months before getting an interview.