Enterprise Ireland Graduates for International Growth- G4IG

ddubs

Got a phone call friday and had the interview just this morning. There was no confirmation email or anything and I had to push the lady who called to give me any information and all I got was the company name, who was interviewing me and the time.
At the interview I have to say the company were very understanding with regard to the fact that we've been given very little info on the positions. The business, their markets, the region and the specific position was all explained at the start of the interview.

If anything my interest in the company went way up after the role was explained. My background was entirely non business and I was worried how this would affect me getting on this programme however the position they want (they are taking on a few G4IG people as well) is a primarily technical position but with exposure across the entire spectrum of the business something which suits me down to the ground.

After the interview they said they will be interviewing for a while and so not to expect word for a number of weeks. As others have said I wouldn't panic if you've not heard anything yet, companies were only finalised this week and the start date for G4IG isn't until 28th of November. Best of luck to everyone.

Also I would recommend anyone going to interview to read the information that enterprise Ireland provide for the companies about the programme available from the website. Given the so many unknowns I think the more you know of what the the company expect from us and have been told by EI about us the more prepared you will be. It also has some decent info on contract dates and salary caps for various regions etc.

gillianmc88

i havent heard anything either. I know I shouldnt get anxious but when family and friends are asking about it all the time its hard not to feel defeated. hopefully will get called for interview before the end of october as I will need to give a months notice to my current employer... fingers crossed for anyone who hasnt heard anything yet!

gem898

hey all,

Yet another one of the 300 waiting for an interview. was looking on the g4ig website and came across the companies section and found this bit of info... I dont know why us graduates werent given this info but anyway I thought I'd share.

"The Start Date of Graduates 4 International Growth is the 28th of November 2011. Graduates 4 International Growth is 18 months duration - 6 months in Ireland and 12 months in the overseas market. The end date of Graduates 4 International Growth is 31st of May 2013.

The Ireland based part of Graduates 4 International Growth II will run from 28th of November 2011 to 1st June 2012. During this time graduates will attend 20 days training scheduled between December 2011 and May 2012. Prior to attending their first training day gradualtes will have commenced emplowment with client companies from 28th of November 2011. The overseas based part of Graduates 4 International Growth II will run from 4th of June 2012 to 31st May 2013."

I know this isnt much but every bit of information helps. In relation to gettin called for interview. Today is the closing date for the companies project application. Then the projects need to be approved or rejected. Then the companies are given their graduate matches. So I think it could be a long time yet before we hear anything!!

dunnear

Just got an interview for next week, an MNC construction company. Finally!

ddubs

dunnear wrote: »

Just got an interview for next week, an MNC construction company. Finally!

A MNC? are they allowed in G4IG. Fair play tho all the same. Is yours an engineering/construction background?

dunnear

No actually no experience in that field. Its for the French market and I studied it an University so I'd say thats why. But the man told me that I would be only a few weeks in Ireland for induction and then off to Belgium. But I thought we had to do 6 months. Very odd

stevethewraith

That does seem a bit odd because you must do a number of days in Enterprise Ireland in Dublin. I think 18 days. That'll be a lot of commuting.

Mack3

Had an interview with a Dublin based software co. today. I met with HR, really nice and relaxed. They are holding interviews all this week and into the middle of next week, but they will be having another round if I get through today...keep ye posted.

dannyirish06

Mack3 wrote: »

Had an interview with a Dublin based software co. today. I met with HR, really nice and relaxed. There holding interviews all this week and into the middle of next week, but they will be having another round if I get through today...keep ye posted.

MAck3 was this company into biometric security software, if so i met the same company, and they r looking 2 graduates, one to go to Sydney the other to Washington???

Who Knows?

So, from reading all the posts to date - nobody knows when the process should be over. I remember reading that assessments were to be finalised in mid-August and then a few got called in the first week of Sept, so the whole process may be moved forward by a month or so?



I too, have not received any work on an interview(s). I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post that it would have been useful if we were given some indication of the nature of a business - not the name. We should have been given the option to rank out top 5-10 preferences and locations. Based on this, it would reduce the element of surprise since you would know, for example, "I only want an IT company in Europe".



Outside of the G4IG, I think it is important to have other options open - "a just in case" strategy. I have one or two interviews coming up and if I hear from EI I will obviously entertain their offer first, but otherwise, life goes on and opportunities are passing. So far, it has been a relatively poor selection process by which we remain blinded by decision-making behind closed doors. We were given little notice to act and complete online assessments, face-to-face assessments, and all we ask for is a little more transparency in the selection process - not much to ask? Maybe this reflects the cold and lack of acknowledgement recruitment process many of use have experienced in recent years.....


I remain positive tho :rolleyes:

Mack3

dannyirish06 wrote: »

MAck3 was this company into biometric security software, if so i met the same company, and they r looking 2 graduates, one to go to Sydney the other to Washington???

Yeah that's the one, didn't know they were looking for two, that would be good, I was told in the interview there was a 90% chance its in the office in Canberra..but again didn't know they are looking for 2 people, so maybe 1 will be going to the office outside Washington D.C. aswell, Best of luck!

dunnear

I don't think it looks bad if you haven't got a reply especially considering the companies are only being finalised now. I am worried about the nature of the companies because they are quite specific and my degree is strictly Business and a language. I do think that Enterprise Ireland are trying to match people according to their skills which is why I reckon I will be pigeon holed in France.

Also if you look at previous posts this delay was also the case last year. I am particulary worried about getting time off for these interviews!

PS i really wonder how many people they are interviewing if there are second round interviews too! Thought it was just going to be around 3!

Mack3

dunnear wrote: »

PS i really wonder how many people they are interviewing if there are second round interviews too! Thought it was just going to be around 3!

Yeah I know, the Company I was with are interviewing all this week and into the middle of next week, definitely some one was interviewed b4 I had mine so taking just 2 people a day for 7-8 days that's taking a lot of candidates..would of hoped just 3 people, especially after the amount we have gone through thus far. (but as @dannyirish06 posted above, this company is looking for 2 people), so maybe that explains the larger no. of interviewee's

119877

@dunnear

I did law and german and asked the G4IG co- ordinator at the presentation day whether we would be placed somewhere based on our language qualification and he said that more than likely we would be. Unfortunately I haven't gotten a call yet, hoping to get one soon!

dunnear

oh thanks for that. My interviewer said not necessarily . I kinda wanted somewhere a bit more exotic than France but oh well. I have an interview for the French market from Belgium Monday. Does anyone know when that facebook link will be put up? Kind of annoying to be honest!

Sorchs

I've had two calls and am going to meet with them this week coming. It sounds like one of you may also have been approached by one of the companies, won't say who just yet. Are most of you being told that the posts are primarily research based?

Will let you all know how it goes!

dunnear

@Sorches,
Mine is anyway! Don't really like the sound of it to be honest. I had to do a 10 minute presentation which was painfully boring. What sectors are your companies in & where?

tilda5

Only 50 places available?!

http://www.jodireland.com/news/article/Blog%20-%20September%2019th,%202011-112.html

Who Knows?

This campaign is becoming more unclear by the day.... That link also suggest that:

"Enterprise Ireland have received over 1200 applicants for the G4IG Programme. This has already been shortened to 300 candidates for interview in September and October following which the top 50 will receive their 18 month assignment from the successful participating Irish companies."

This suggests that we all should get an interview eventhough we were informed that an interview was not a guarantee?

Hope to hear something this week (we were among the last group of candidates for assessment).

wardy171

Going by this article from July I would imagine the '50' graduates mentiond in the article above refers to those on the initial programme last year. Someone must have just taken his figure from last year and assumed it would be a similar number.

http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/News/PressReleases/2011-Press-Releases/Graduate-ambassadors-to-increase-exports.html

As far as I was told there were 120 spots for the 300 remaining candidates.

miller8721

Just to share my experience with you guys. I hold a Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering, a Master degree in Business Analytics and I am a Chinese national who have spent more than six years in Ireland.

I got three calls from three different companies for interview. Two of them were IT companies and one of them were recruitment company. Two of them were based in Dublin and one was based in Cork.

I have already had four round interviews(with HR, Director of Engineering, CEO and co-founder of the company) with one of the companies (Chinese market). The position offered by them was Trainee Product Manager. Hopefully will get something back in the next few days.

I have had one round interview with the CEO of a recruitment company (Singapore market) and got a call today that invite me to a second round interview on Wednesday.

Another IT company called me last week invite me to an interview this Thursday.

ddubs

miller8721 wrote: »

Just to share my experience with you guys. I hold a Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering, a Master degree in Business Analytics and I am a Chinese national who have spent more than six years in Ireland.

I got three calls from three different companies for interview. Two of them were IT companies and one of them were recruitment company. Two of them were based in Dublin and one was based in Cork.

I have already had four round interviews(with HR, Director of Engineering, CEO and co-founder of the company) with one of the companies (Chinese market). The position offered by them was Trainee Product Manager. Hopefully will get something back in the next few days.

I have had one round interview with the CEO of a recruitment company (Singapore market) and got a call today that invite me to a second round interview on Wednesday.

Another IT company called me last week invite me to an interview this Thursday.

ha, leave some jobs for the rest of us!;)

Sorchs

@dunnear
One is construction and the the other is telecommunications, Not enthralled by the idea of a research post but I think I'll give them a chance to try and convince me at least! fingers crossed for tomorrow

dunnear

@ Sorchs
Think you have same one I had! 2 rounds of interviews but the guys are really nice still not too mad about it though hope I get another call.

dannyirish06

Mack3, u hear anything back yet from them????? There was 6 people for each job being interviewed is what the girl told me.

Khance

Hey everyone, I just joined up to reply to this thread. I've spent the last hour reading all the posts... and I'm relieved to find that I'm not the only one that's nervous about the whole process.

I was shortlisted to the final 300, but have gotten no word of interviews at all. I got my feedback from the assesment centre. I got 3's in everything except Commercial Orientation, in which I got 4. I don't know how that compares to everyone else.

I have an honours degree in Marketing, lived in france for a year, intermediate spanish and I've been working for the last year in a top publishing house in Ireland.

My friend got a call and was asked if he'd like to go to Prague for a year doing IT. His background was computer games development, so it just shows how diverse our group is.

I get the feeling that I'll accept anything I'm given at this stage, but I do have to say, it really did become real for me when I read above about places in Sydney or Washington. It's quite daunting to say the least.

Last bit of information. Sonya in the G4IG office, (who likely hates me with the amount of times I've called her) mentioned that it would be Mondays at Smurfit, and the remainder of the week at the Irish offices of the company.

So we'd be there for one day of the week.

xtina89

Iv been offered and accepted a marketing position with an IT company through the program. My international 12 months will be in the uk. I had my interviews pretty early on as luckily they didn't want the process to drag on either. I was told they'd been given six applicants profiles to look at and cut it down to three to interview. They were asked would they like to see further bios about two and a half weeks ago but declined. I'd say a lot of companies would want more choice so definitely remain optimistic.
Khance just said about having been in contact with Sonia, about being in smurfit-I thought in the preparation session they said the lectures would be in EI itself? Anyone able to clarify?

Who Knows?

@Xtina89Well done!! At least you have some direction as to where/what you'll be doing in the near future.

I just can believe how uninformed we all are on this process.... Its a huge thing - UK, Oz, USA.... its not a bus trip away!! Why cant they say, "Your file is being viewed by x companies. We will update you on the outcome in x days" - just some indication that we are still in the race? Its a slow process.....

Vote Who Knows for President!!! lol

longwait

yeah i was freaking out the last while that i hadn't gotten a call. i did get a call to see if i would be interested in being called for an interview last week though . it sorta took me by surprise as i figured i had done fairly crap in the online assessment (all 3's and one 4), but i thought my interview and group case study went well.

not really freaking out as much anymore as i guess there are a fair few companies left still.

the not knowing though is killing me. but i presume we are all feeling that way!

johnjoebloggs

Hi guys, obviously very new to here but needed to get some advice. I have read through the entire thread and there is some interesting info. I went for an interview yesterday with this specialist construction company. Market Research role for Europe. Any thoughts?