Abbott Ireland

Bakharwaldog

I have an interview with Abbott for their graduate programme: professional development programme (PDP). I got through the first round of telephone interviews and have an interview next week which involves a "group task" and face to face interview.

Does anyone have any experience of how Abbott interview, anyone done the PDP or work for Abbott in general or know anything about it? Like how many they take on, what the group task involves, common questions, what happens after the PDP, pay etc.

From what I can see it looks pretty good.Its 2 years long and you spend 6 months in each of their plants throughout ireland. Looks like it would give you a good insight into the company and give you experience in a variety of different areas.

Cheers

UMMMM

I don't have personal experience of working for Abbott but somebody close to me does. Its the best company they have ever worked for as they put alot of emphasis on work life balance and all though there is pressurised periods demands are not unreasonable.

They also think the grad programme is very good looking at the candidates that have worked through it. You will be up against tough competition for your place.

As for the group excerise try to demonstrate that you are team player but if somebody is doing something you don't agree with stand up to be counted!

GOOD LUCK:)

experiMental

c_k_m wrote: »

I have an interview with Abbott for their graduate programme: professional development programme (PDP). I got through the first round of telephone interviews and have an interview next week which involves a "group task" and face to face interview.

Does anyone have any experience of how Abbott interview, anyone done the PDP or work for Abbott in general or know anything about it? Like how many they take on, what the group task involves, common questions, what happens after the PDP, pay etc.

From what I can see it looks pretty good.Its 2 years long and you spend 6 months in each of their plants throughout ireland. Looks like it would give you a good insight into the company and give you experience in a variety of different areas.

Cheers

Well done for being considered!

I have struggled to apply to that programme - I couldn't find what application form I had to fill in - can you tell me what the application form looked like, what questions were there on it? Thanks, as I feel terrible about missing such an opportunity.

Sorted!

I did an interview and group assessment for the PDP programme starting 2009.

The interview was very much based on the common interview questions, "Tell me about a time you worked in a group..", "Tell me about a time you faced conflict in a group...", etc.

The group assessment was bizarre! There were five of us (as far as I can remember), we had to choose one person who would be given instructions, the rest of us were blind-folded and told to get on our hands and knees (no joke!), the person we chose was given a wendy-house and had to instruct the rest of, while blind-folded, on how to put it together! Felt ridiculous crawling around in a suit saying things like "I feel that if we collectively...blah blah blah".

Anyway, to conclude, there's a big emphasis on team work.

Bakharwaldog

Sorted! wrote: »

The group assessment was bizarre! There were five of us (as far as I can remember), we had to choose one person who would be given instructions, the rest of us were blind-folded and told to get on our hands and knees (no joke!), the person we chose was given a wendy-house and had to instruct the rest of, while blind-folded, on how to put it together! Felt ridiculous crawling around in a suit saying things like "I feel that if we collectively...blah blah blah".

Anyway, to conclude, there's a big emphasis on team work.

That sounds insane? I was expecting something a lot less crazy haha...could be fun!

Any idea how many places there are at the end of it?

@experimental: I think the form was just on the abbott website, you just had to upload your cv and a cover letter. No questions as far as i can remember

http://www.abbott.ie/careers-graduates_pdp Theres a link to apply at the bottom of the page that sends you to a list of jobs. The PDP came up there like the jobs that are currently there

@UMMM Cheers it does sound like an unreal place to work!

I think im just going to prepare as many answers as I can and learn them off, should cover me for all possibilities. Only thing is that task. Could be a bit hit or miss

C.D.

Apparently close to 800 graduates applied for 3 jobs last year, they take on those with degrees right through to Phd's. They interview those with a minimum of a 2.1 but to the best of my knowledge, everyone in recent years who has been recruited would tend to be a high achiever, scoring very comfortable 1.1's.

I would imagine you would be assured a job after unless your performance was very poor- Abbott would have invested a lot of time and money into you and you would have unrivaled experience amongst your peer group.

experiMental

C.D. wrote: »

Apparently close to 800 graduates applied for 3 jobs last year, they take on those with degrees right through to Phd's. They interview those with a minimum of a 2.1 but to the best of my knowledge, everyone in recent years who has been recruited would tend to be a high achiever, scoring very comfortable 1.1's.

Is it the same case with other technical graduate schemes, where only those who get 1.1 become accepted?

Btw, best of luck in the assessment, ckm!

Bakharwaldog

C.D. wrote: »

Apparently close to 800 graduates applied for 3 jobs last year, they take on those with degrees right through to Phd's. They interview those with a minimum of a 2.1 but to the best of my knowledge, everyone in recent years who has been recruited would tend to be a high achiever, scoring very comfortable 1.1's.

I would imagine you would be assured a job after unless your performance was very poor- Abbott would have invested a lot of time and money into you and you would have unrivaled experience amongst your peer group.

800 for three jobs? wow...I thought there were more places than that. Although the program might have gotten bigger since then?!? hopefully...(probably not tho)

There was less than 800 who applied this year id say. I got an e-mail from the careers advice office saying that only 520 had applied and they wanted more. This was the day before the deadline.

Also, strangely, I was talking to a career adviser in college and he said that a lot of people weren't applying for jobs. He had a few examples of jobs which had no applicants. Seems crazy in a recession but i think it could be due to the fact that most students are already resigned to the fact that they arent going to get a job and are just planning on going abroad/doing a masters.

C.D.

c_k_m wrote: »

800 for three jobs? wow...I thought there were more places than that. Although the program might have gotten bigger since then?!? hopefully...(probably not tho)

There was less than 800 who applied this year id say. I got an e-mail from the careers advice office saying that only 520 had applied and they wanted more. This was the day before the deadline.

Also, strangely, I was talking to a career adviser in college and he said that a lot of people weren't applying for jobs. He had a few examples of jobs which had no applicants. Seems crazy in a recession but i think it could be due to the fact that most students are already resigned to the fact that they aren't going to get a job and are just planning on going abroad/doing a masters.

Definitely true, there is a very defeatist attitude amongst a lot of grads re: jobs. A lot of them seem to resign themselves to doing a masters/phd without even looking for a job- perhaps it is the Irish psyche of being afraid to put yourself out there in case you are shot down coming to the fore.

The Abbott program has been running since 2007 and numbers have fluctuated- I'd guess depending on headcount allocation/vacant positions across the country.

Competition is tough everywhere, Accenture had 2,100 applications for 70 jobs in 2010. Apparently they still had difficulty filling all the roles and were still recruiting this summer- they are very specific about what personality types they want.

layney1410

I am in the same position. My interview is Tuesday and I am confused as to what they can ask you in the one on one interview as they asked alot of questions in the telephone screening process. Do you think they could ask the same questions again?

egennery

For the group assessment, demonstrate good listening, questioning, teamwork and challenging as necessary.

For the face to face, prepare a list of competencies that this employer might require, and identify where you demonstrated each competency in life, work, or college. Use the STAR approach to construct your answers i.e.
S = situation - overall situation "i was a student faced with...."
T = task or challenge facing me "the challenge I was to ...."
A = actions I took - use "I" language
R = results or outcomes for all - me, the team, my classmate, my colleagues

Prep your STAR stories well and show passion and enthusiasm at interview.

Good luck
Elaine

layney1410

@ egennery:Thanks for your help!! Thats been very useful....I feel a little less nervous now:D