Does it make a difference the Name / Location of College you go too?

Irish_peppa

Im considering doing a springboard course as a mature student. Just wondering would similar courses but in different colleges look better on a cv or would it be totally irrelevant.

All things being equal 2 people go for same job only difference is their degree/education:

Ie: Similar Business courses / degree Person 1 went to public Dunboyne College, the second person went to Dublin Business School. As DBS is private and a "Business" college would a person viewing the CV be more in favour of the guy that went to DBS? or am i thinking way too much into it. Was just wondering from the viewpoint of if having the choice does it make any difference at all or zero.

Martina1991

I would say it depends on the industry and employer.

Graduates from ITs may be more favorable in construction, engineering, pharmaceuticals etc if they have hands on experience during placement which Universities tend not to have.

To use your example, someone might be top of the class in Dunboyne College and someone else might scrape a pass from DBS. Who would be the better applicant then?

I would hope grades and experience would trump the location of where someone went to college.

skooterblue2

Irish_peppa wrote: »

Im considering doing a springboard course as a mature student. Just wondering would similar courses but in different colleges look better on a cv or would it be totally irrelevant.

First congratulation on making the big decision to return to education.
What a course is a way to get your foot in the door to an interview.
A course says "I have spent 4 years studying a subject, I have a basic understanding of what you want me to do and I have some practical experience in a Lab/programming a deliverable project/spent 6 months on a building site". The next bit is up to you at an interview.

Certain companies have histories of hiring from certain universities. I am not very experienced with dealing with Universities even though I attend one currently. ITs are on two levels. Some are more desirable than others. The difference is funding and industrial co-operation. I saw two ITs in the same year to see engineering projects. The first had loads of industrial collaboration in the third year projects while in the second IT the projects were much more basic and had little or no industrial participation.

I have a negative experience of graduates from private colleges unless it is a specialised course that is not provided elsewhere. If you arent fit enough to compete in the Irish public IT/university system then you are there because of someone elses graces. I have known 6 people (not friends) who went to private third levels and 5 of them where not "does what it says on the tin". They were there because their parents cheque cashed.

I wouldnt worry about the Springboard courses. They require a certain motivation that is difficult to muster and doesnt suit everyone from the conventional classroom. I have a friend doing a level 6 on his own from Spring board. He is happy he doesnt have to travel often but it requires a lot of motivation. He is going to get a great job as a technician, (suits him 40's stay at home dad, wife is an accountant). He goes into Kevin St to do his lab. He just wants a job. Not to be team leader or have a PhD. Its a case of horses for courses.

Go to employment open days as ask do you accept certs from this college. The interview is a different thing. I thought everything was about the degree. The interview is about how the team leader will fit you into his existing team. The course is just gets your foot in the door. They would like to hear about your previous employment and how your projects turned out.