Applying to an International Graduate Programme – Am I too late?
Anyone who is a final year student or has recently graduated from college is very familiar with questions like what are you doing ? What do you want to do? And the big one… WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?!?
I don’t know about anyone else but I definitely put off answering these questions until after I had graduated. I was of course far too busy either studying, concentrating on my work/ social /college balance or whatever other excuse I was telling myself at the time to even let those questions enter my mind. Those who dared even ask me any of the above (especially my mother) were met with some serious attitude. Sound familiar?
In final year I did partake in the usual panic of any business student, where everyone scrambles to apply to 700 graduate programmes at once with the hope that one will take the bait. However the problem with this upon reflection, is that I barely would skim the programme description and usually only apply to a programmes if someone else had said it was a “good one”. Of course we all have those friends/frenemies who seem to have it all figured out and got interview after interview and were offered 15 different positions before February in final year but listen…. that was not me. I half did the applications and portrayed myself in the age old Irish way of “I’m great! But not that great”.
Another solid method I had about my future was that I would go to the gradfairs, talk to people at every stand, look really interested and they’d surely hire me on the spot! Again this is not the case. Most people working at the grad fair stands are graduates doing the programme and they are purely there to give you information and ask you to apply online. Very few are actually going to give you interview invitations on the spot. Other than these mild attempts about figuring out my future, I just decided to get the best grade I could in my course and see where the pennies dropped after that. (Or in my case after my summer in Vancouver).
By reading the title you have probably already assumed that I did in fact land into a graduate programme, and your assumption would be correct! But...I wouldn’t say it was in the most conventional route. I just want to let college graduates know that there is no such thing as a "perfect" timeline after college.
I arrived back in September from Vancouver with ample memories and dwindling funds. No job, no prospect of a job and surely I should have a 5 year plan set out already? At this stage I was 4 months out of college how did I not have anything together by now?
I made the sensible decision to move back home, get a job and save money. I began to scour the web for any job remotely related to my course and got an interview with an Irish bank (the name of which I will not disclose as I may not paint them in the kindest of lights). My parents urged me to take my time in figuring out what exactly I wanted to do before I rushed into to applying to any old job. I told them I would just would work in the bank and apply to graduate programmes at the same time! However as anyone with a full time job will tell you, the last thing you want to do in your spare time is fill out applications and in general use your brain outside the office.
Evidently applications were put on the long finger. Who knows I could love banking? (said no one ever).
Months went by and before I knew it was the New year. I hated that I was living in Cork when all my friends were jetting off to exotic locations (mainly Dublin), I hated my job and that I wasn’t feeling fulfilled and I wanted a change. The good thing to come out of this situation and why I’m glad it happened, is that I finally understood my worth and what skills I had to offer. I had time to evaluate what I enjoyed, what I disliked and I was able to get the juicy goss from my friends about how they were actually finding their new roles.
I decided to make a list of what I wanted in my next role. I promised myself that I wouldn’t apply to just anything but to put actual effort and time into the few applications of roles I really wanted. Similarly it’s really important NOT to piggy back off what friends are doing too.
The List:
1. Work abroad
2. Salary requirements
3. Educational/ upskilling courses
4. Work with people
5. Dynamic working environment
6. Food Industry related
Coming from a Commerce and French degree, I had been on Erasmus in 3rd year and had gotten a taste of living abroad. I also grew up on a farm and all my favourite modules in college were in Food business. I had learned that continuous learning is helpful for progression opportunities and the other requirements listed are just aspects that are particular to my personality. With these aspects in mind I began my search for the right graduate programme that would kick start my career.
I attended another gradfair except this time to actually to listen to what programmes were on offer and not try to impress anyone. I came across the Bord Bia stand and the programme seemed too good to be true. It is a 2 year programme in collaboration with Smurfit Business school where you work for Bord Bia promoting food and drink abroad. Simultaneously you complete a masters with the top business school in the country and be actually paid to work and study.
As you can imagine this was one of the applications I pinpointed as a priority. After the application process, some psychometric tests and a series of interviews. Your girl got the job!
Ok now that you’ve found the programme that you want, one that you believe will be the right stepping stone in your career. What exactly does an international graduate programme look like? Well I’m going to give you the good the bad and the FOOD.
Programme Layout
- 32 applicants were chosen to be apart one of Bord Bia’s 4 talent academy programmes.
- I am doing the Masters in Global Business Practice for those who have recently graduated from college.
Link to other programmes descriptions: https://www.smurfitschool.ie/executivedevelopment/organisations/bordbia/bordbia/
- 16 work in the different departments within Bord Bia’s Dublin headquarters e.g Marketing, Meat, Dairy, Insights etc.
- 16 work abroad in Market offices in Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East.
- The first month consists of training and lectures darting between Bord Bia HQ and UCD Smurfit Business school.
- Every 6 months we returned on “block releases” where we returned to yummy lunches and lectures for just over a week.
- After the first month and each block release we have assignments due for each module (2 modules every block) in the following months.
- No exams are undertaken it is 100% assignment based.
What do I do though?
The layout is the bones of the programme, but what every graduate does day to day is actually quite different. However with the overall mission of creating business at home and abroad for Irish food and drink companies. Surprising as it may be for some Bord Bia does more than puts a quality sticker on a leg of lamb. We create and maintain relationships with the world’s leading retailers and distributors and facilitate sector specific trade fairs across the world. Within every organisation there are thousands of actions that are performed but these are the main actions of those in market offices.
I work currently in the Paris office with the African, European and US regional managers, but I will be placed in New York for my last year of the programme (see I told you it was international!!!). Two other graduates work in in the office covering the French market with the French office manager and market specialists. I have worked on trade missions, at trade fairs across Europe, conducted category intelligence research, co-ordinated Bord Bia initiatives and annoy basically every market office to give me all the information I need.
Currently I am preparing for Prowein in Dusseldorf which is Europe’s leading wine and spirits fair. I will be working the stand for 3 days as the market contact and I am presently organising meetings ( ILY scheduling assistant <3), invitations, supplies and logistics in preparation for the show.
Bord Bia Christmas trade reception:
Every week is different and presents a new project or task. However just as a disclaimer we still have to do office administration, answer phones, process invoices and fill in excel sheets. These are part and parcel of every graduate role out there and sometimes can be the most important tasks to get right.
Run in the Dark with some of Bord Bia Paris:
The Graduate Social Scene
Ok now to the good stuff. Do we have fun? Have we made friends? And are you supported?
The answer is yes to all!
The first month of the programme all 32 of us spent every day together and naturally through training and the 3 or 4 drinks we would have on an occasion......we all became very close. Some of whom I now consider be my best friends, cheesy as it may seem (see cute pic attached).
This programme has a no d$*khead policy, and that certainly rings true. Many have come to stay with me and my roommate (and fellow grad) and whom we will be returning the favour to see Dermot Kennedy next month in London.
The Food
Between tastings, trade fairs, promotional dinners and generous client companies we are never hungry, free food will always tastes better.
Some sweet treats from a recent trade fair:
In brief, to all students, graduates and young professionals. There is no right path. Take your own time, assess your options and do what feels right to YOU!
If any one is interested in the International Bord Bia graduate programme that was right for me click apply !! It's never too late