Image
For half a century Cooperative Education at University Limerick has been embedding employability in the curriculum providing many students with their first experience of the working world. 50 faces, 50 years is a project capturing the diverse range of experience and career paths taken by former UL students and how their Cooperative Education placement has impacted this.
Each week, we will be sharing stories from former co-op students from the first outgoing class of 1974 up to graduates of our most recent 2024 class.
Dr Mark Mantey
My co-op has been the best experience of my life. It was an excellent opportunity for me to improve my soft skills. It allowed me to gain the confidence to work independently.
Itzel Límon
Itzel Límon, shares her experience of working with Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival for her co-op. Now working full time as a dancer she recognises the importance of the admin experience she gained there.
Observe and contribute, both will bring you fresh perspectives, don’t hesitate to share your ideas, they are as unique and important, and you’ll learn from them. Lastly, use this time to keep finding yourself, to reflect on what resonates with you in your field.
Alison Kearney
We often share with outgoing students that co-op is an opportunity to 'try a career on'. Alison Kearney echoes this with her advise to future co-op students.
Co-op should be treated as the pre-cursor to a future career, and if you’re lucky enough to get into a company you love, make sure you make a good impression and keep in touch when you get back to college because you never know, you could be back there
Professor Finbarr Murphy
Finbarr travelled to Japan for his co-op in 1990, for what he describes as a life-changing experience. He urges students to consider the opportunity of going on a global co-op.
Whether in Ireland or abroad, embrace the challenge and try and get outside of your comfort zone. While working, try and get a sense of other areas in your organization and consider what interests you and how that might guide your studies and future career direction. Enjoy, it is a great opportunity and make the most of it.
Pam Howard
Pam's experience of UL is very different from today's students, but the opportunity to get off campus and test your academic learning in a working environment remains the same. She shares a trip down memory lane with us and some key insights for current and future co-op students.
Our class had access to the computer only for very short periods and punched cards were our way of communicating with the mainframe. Mobile phones and the internet have not been invented as yet. After the constant cycle of 6 exams every 11 weeks of year 1, there was a reward. Co-op in those days was after the first two semesters of year 2, from April to December in our second year.
Bethan Leonard
Bethan Leonard shares some very relatable insights into her co-op placement. Like many others co-op was her first experience in a corporate environment and a big change from the home comforts of UL.
Co-op was my first entrée into the professional world of work. For me, it was quite a steep learning curve – like I said, I hadn’t a clue at the beginning.
Ailbhe Kiely
It’s also important to learn to be uncomfortable, taking on tasks that put you outside your comfort zone is such a huge learning opportunity your future self will thank you for.
Gillian Maxwell
Gillian shares a similar sentiment to many other graduates. Use your time on co-op to explore different career options and learn from those around you to discover what you want to do when the time comes.
See this placement as a fundamental step into your corporate-level career and take this time to observe the roles your colleagues work in each day as this is helpful insight into the type of work you might want to see yourself doing. If it is the type of work you are curious about, be proactive in asking them about their roles.
Joe Costigan
Journalism graduate, Joe Costigan, has just made the move to Sydney, Australia to work with Sky News. He says, that without his co-op experience, this opportunity would not have come around.
Those positions meant that when the chance to move to Australia to work for Sky News came up I already had two years experience in a news room under my belt and a big portfolio to show what I was capable of.
Seán Roche
During Seán's co-op placement with Philips, he worked on a project alongside a team of Accenture consultants. Thanks to this exposure he set his sights on joining Accenture after graduation, a more unusual path for a Mechanical Engineering Student.
Embrace the opportunity! Its impossible to quantify the value real world experience can have in parallel with your degree.
Caylum O'Neill
Like many foreign language students, Caylum cites the ability to live in a foreign country and immerse himself in German language and culture as being one of the highlights of his Cooperative Education placement.
It's been a huge advantage in terms of career development. Now, still working and studying in a third-level institution, and still using both German and English professionally, I am continuing along a career path which was forged in part by my co-op.
David O'Leary
David recommends using your time on co-op to build your network, learn from others, and develop cultural awareness. He attributes his current career success on these building blocks which he gained during his placement.
This network has been instrumental in my career advancement, offering access to opportunities, advice, and learnings. The international experience I gained during my co-op gave me the cultural awareness and adaptability necessary to excel in the global platform in which my current role operates.
Darren O'Dwyer
Darren started his career with Kilkenny County Council in 2010 with a co-op placement in their HR team. He credits co-op as being a key step in building his HR career and gave him the relevant professional exposure needed to find a graduate position.
Immerse yourself in the company culture, listen, ask questions, be kind and build relationships. Always ask for feedback and whilst it’s nice to hear the positive feedback, it’s knowing the areas in which you need to improve, which will help you succeed.
Jennifer Warde
It provided me with invaluable opportunity in terms of personal and professional growth. Not only did I hone a number of skills from a problem-solving point of view, but the exposure to working with and learning from talented professionals in the industry, really gave me confidence when I started my career after graduating.
Andrea Newport
Both roles were character-building and pushed me outside my comfort zone. They provided a chance to really develop those soft skills that a module can’t teach, such as meeting and working with people from different cultures and backgrounds, living independently, and travelling around Europe.
Aisling O'Brien
To this day, I credit that placement opportunity for where I am now in my career and the fantastic group of friends from UL I met and remain close with from our time in NYC.
Iain Campbell
Iain shares with us how despite his co-op placement being impacted by COVID-19, he still managed to get essential experience which continues to help him with his role today.
Though I don’t currently work in regulatory affairs, what I learned while on my co-op placement still stands with me today. In my role as an R&D engineer, I interacted with regulatory affairs daily and the knowledge I picked up while on my co-op has made my role in R&D easier.
Jemima Militti
Trainee solicitor Jemima shares with us how her co-op placement helped her to secure a training contract after college.
The more you put in the more you get out. College is very ‘grades’ focused whereas co-op, I believe, is all about showing up, having a good attitude, learning to communicate effectively, as well as a strong desire to learn.
James Walsh
James shares with us how his experience with Pfizer as a co-op student helped him to build the skills required to start his career as a Bioprocess Engineer.
Aside from all the technical and soft skills I learned, it also helped me build relationships with a number of people whom I have returned to multiple times for advice and references. In short, it’s a great opportunity that opens a world of possibilities for you.
Allen Flynn
From Bord Bainne to PWC in New York, Allen's co-op placements set him up for his future career. He talks about the skills he learned during his time on co-op.
Although we all aspire to get a co-op education placement in specific areas, the most important element to realise about the co-op programme is that regardless of your specific job, you learn about dealing with people, dealing with deadlines and working in group scenarios and the benefit of these can never be underestimated.
Gillian Kelleher
Gillian shares her experience working in Atari in Limerick for her co-op and how that experience gave her the insights needed to join Phillips in the Netherlands after graduation.
Use your co-op time to learn as much as you can, not only about the company or the technology but also about yourself. My experience is that you never really know what a job is like until you actually do it and at the end of the day every job is what you make of it yourself.
Rachael O'Shaughnessy
Partner at HOMS Assist Rachel, shares her advice for students interested in a legal career on how to make the most of their co-op experience.
Having a network is so important, many of us lawyers would not be where we are today without mentors and sponsors advising and advocating for us so get to know as many people as you can.
Amy Walsh
Student's can often feel pressure to get a co-op placement that aligns with their future career goals, but often the biggest learning comes from the transferable skills they develop. Amy speaks about how she still uses these skills today.
It isn’t always possible to get something 100% applicable to your career goals but I would think of the transferable skills you may be able to get.
Shannel Kahiga
Go ahead with it and you won’t regret it. You gain valuable experience which is extremely helpful in your future career.
Gerry Cahill
Co-op allows students to build their network and make connections within their industry at a crucial point in their career. Gerry shares with us how his line manager from co-op became a mentor for him.
The most significant impact of my co-op placement was the career guidance I received from my line manager. His advice proved invaluable when I was choosing a job after college. Having someone I trusted to consult about potential employers and job roles made a huge difference in my career path.
Tomás Heneghan
Tomás made history last year when he won a Supreme Court appeal for his claim that UL graduates should be entitled to vote in the Seanad Éireann elections. He got his first experience of working in a legal environment during his co-op and gives future students advice on how to make the most of their experience.
If you do the placement and it turns out to not be a career you want to pursue, fine, you’ve learned something important there. Try not to have a preconceived idea of what your placement will be like and what you’ll get from it because you could be very surprised at the end.
Mary McEvoy
Every job you do will teach you something about yourself. Seek out mentors in the role and learn from them and their experience so you get guidance as to how to steer your career in a helpful direction.
Image
Conor Daly
The co-op experience afforded to me by UL has had a profound impact on my career and future career by not only affirming my desire to be a civil servant but also teaching me that not everybody enters their dream position immediately upon completion of their studies.
Dr Briga Hynes
Dr Briga Hynes completed her placement in 1985 with Bord Altranais. Her co-op placement exposed her to the 'realities' of work and prepared her to make the transition from student to professional. Now, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Kemmy Business School she shares her experience of her co-op placement.
Co-op provided me with a reality check which was central was crucial in shaping my work ethic and preparing me for future career challenges.
Lyndsey Hall
Lyndsey's love for storytelling was nurtured during her co-op placement at the Frank McCourt Museum. She shares how her co-op placement helped her to build the skills needed to now work as Head of Digital Communications.
I left my placement with a real sense that I’d made an actual difference, something that was entirely enabled by Una and Dorothy's trust in us. We gave tours to visitors from all over, promoted the museum at home and abroad, and helped to tell the museum’s story.
Jennifer Downing
For Jennifer, co-op pushed her out of her comfort zone into a position in an industry which she knew very little about. She adapted quickly and learned key skills like how to work on a team and how to behave in an office environment.
Enjoy the experience, it teaches you a little of what the world might look like after graduation but also be safe in the knowledge that you get to go back to the wonderful world of UL for a while longer when you’re done!
Cian O'Donnell
Embrace new experiences, say yes to every learning opportunity, and make the effort to connect with your colleagues. Most importantly, enjoy the journey—you never know where your co-op might lead you!
Cian shares great advice for current students on co-op. Reminding them that being open to new experiences and learning opportunities will enhance their experience.
Ian Devine
Ian shares how co-op was a time of great learning, practical work experience, and fun. After graduation, he returned to Hamburg where he completed his co-op and continues to live there today.
I went to Hamburg in June 2006 through February 2007 and worked for Lufthansa Technik in their VIP Design Engineering department. I was lucky that this coincided with the Football World Cup being hosted in Germany, so past the work, there was a great social aspect to starting my co-op abroad.
Pauric Keeshan
Like many students, Pauric had his first taste of a professional environment when he moved to Dublin to complete his eight-month work placement with EY. He attributes this experience to helping him get a graduate role and become a charted accountant.
My co-op placement opened many doors for me. It demonstrated to future employers that I could commit to a role for an extended period. It shows you can work well with others and adapt to a professional environment.
Joel Olympio
Winner of the James Dyson Award, Joel developed his professional skills while on co-op. He shares about how this experience helped him to start his career.
Working at Dolmen was a great opportunity for me to get direct industry experience as an industrial designer. I was able to improve my skills and learn from a really talented and supportive team.
Michelle Doherty
Michelle's co-op in BT gave her exposure to working with HR professionals during a time of re-organisation for the company. She looks back fondly on her time both at work and with her friends.
Enjoy it and embrace it. Its such a fabulous taster of what a professional working life is, its character building and UL students are so lucky to get that experience.
Alice Carroll
Learning what you don’t like is as important as this stage as figuring out what is. For me, it honed my passion on the brand building side of marketing and away from public relations so that when I was finishing college, I knew exactly what type of jobs I DID want to go for.
Rían Murphy
Cooperative Education is a transformative time for students both in their professional lives, and their personal lives. Rían Murphy, Applied Languages graduate speaks about the opportunities for students to enjoy themselves and discover new cultures while on co-op.
I would encourage students to enjoy themselves. Travel around the country, go out to bars and restaurants, join clubs and organisations where you can meet people and have fun. Six months goes by very quickly so you have to make the most of it. Ideally you won’t want to leave at the end of it.
Tim Kenny
Tim graduated in 1981 from the University of Limerick (then NIHE Limerick) with a National Diploma in Business Studies. Founder of the St Baldrick's Foundation and Arann Insurance Group, Tim says that co-op set him up for his future career.
The best advice I can give to students is to listen, ask questions and work hard. Most of all, be professional, punctual and do not be afraid to stay late if necessary because it will pay off!
David O'Loughlin
David, now Director of Financial Reporting in DM Financial, knows first hand the value that co-op students can bring to an organisation. He offers some advice for accounting students starting their career.
Every year we take on a number of really amazing UL students, who get on the job expertise in the same manner as a trainee accountant.
Aisling Fee
Co-op forces students outside of their comfort zones and Aisling was certainly outside her comfort zone when she moved in with a host family in Spain. She shares how it impacted her co-op experience.
Initially I was horrified to learn that the host father had no English, now looking back it was a blessing because it really pushed me to practice my Spanish and gain confidence speaking in a relaxed setting.
Sherrif Adegoke
Known as Breezy iDeyGoke, Sherrif shares valuable advice for students: be open to learning and expect the unexpected. His co-op experience laid the groundwork for his successful post-graduation career. Sheriff emphasises the importance of making new friends in a professional setting and understanding that dynamic, which has been crucial in his journey from a full-time musician to running a record label and working with Nike.
Be open to learn anything and expect the unexpected. I originally felt it was going to be a completely different industry to what I had interest in at the time. But it ultimately led me to understand and work towards building the framework of what sparked my career after graduation.
Fiona O'Kearney
Fiona's career took a significant turn in 2021 when she joined Unapologetic Magazine. Currently, she balances her marketing role in with her passion for publishing. Fiona discusses her impactful co-op placement and offers valuable advice for students embarking on their own co-op experiences.
The role honestly created a domino effect for my career – it was very easy to get administrative jobs after graduating because of my experience working in an office
Karen Ronan
Karen moved to New York to work with Bord Failte in 1995 as part of her Cooperative Education. Since then she has continued to promote Ireland as a world class destination. Read more about how her placement helped to create her future career.
My co-op placement paved the way for my entire career to date. I had no knowledge of tourism prior to joining Bord Failte and it has been the most rewarding career.
Image
Michael O'Keane
Michael graduated from UL in 1978, when it was still known as NIHE, and all classes were held in Plassey House. He went on two separate placements to ICC bank, which lay the path for a career banking and finance. As a student in one of our first co-op classes to take on placement, his experience looks very different to today. But his advice remains as relevant now as ever!
Most of all enjoy it – you may not realise it but everyday you are adding to your existing skills and developing new ones
Dave Riordan
Dave Riordan completed his co-op placement with Eli Lilly in Kinsale Co. Cork, 27 years later he is still with them but now as site head in Puerto Rico. Read about how co-op gave him the experience he needed to start his career.
Don’t overestimate how much time you have– It slips by really quickly so use every moment and every opportunity to learn something new.
Julia Leonard
Client Manager, Julia Leonard speaks about her time with Zagg International and how those eight months helped her to build the skills needed to work in a fast-paced marketing agency.
Co-op isn’t just about the work, it’s also about networking and making connections, so get to know your co-workers and seek out mentors who can offer guidance and support.
Embrace and enjoy the experience. Your time on co-op will fly by. Don't underestimate the "soft" learnings gained from going to the office, interacting with people and often people from different geographies and cultures, attending meetings in person and online & reporting out. This will make attending your first job, post graduation, less daunting.
My co-op placement had a profound impact on my future career by solidifying my passion for the Spanish language and work in educational settings. Following my co-op placement, I stayed in Spain, improving my language skills and continuing my studies.
Professor Shane Kilcommins
I quickly realised that my undergraduate education was not standard or orthodox. It combined innovative curriculum, assessment and work placement that shaped all of us who attended the institution in multiple way.
Professor Shane Kilcommins shares his experience working in Germany as a co-op student in the 90's.
Contact Details
Cooperative Education: +353-61-202044 | coop.info@ul.ie
Careers Services: +353-61-202451 | careers@ul.ie
School Placement: +353-61-202478 | schoolplacement@ul.ie