man in blazer and shirt

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.

Tell us a bit about yourself, what course did you study in UL, what has your career looked like to date?

I studied Business Studies at UL, majoring in HRM. My career began in HR at Dairygold in Cork before joining Google in Dublin as a Recruitment Coordinator. My passion for recruitment led me to be part of the team that launched Sky Ireland, hiring 900 people in a year. A pivotal moment in my career was joining GOAL, where I recruited healthcare professionals to work across Africa, including the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. After gaining diverse experience across many sectors, going on to work with Deloitte and then a recruitment agency, I returned to in-house tech recruitment. Now, I’m a Manager of Talent Acquisition EMEA at WP Engine. This company has allowed me to grow, learn, develop and thrive over the past seven years, inspired daily by our amazing people and incredible culture.

Tell us a bit about your co-op placement, what organisation did you work with and what year it took place?

In 2010, during a tough economic period in Ireland, I joined Kilkenny County Council’s HR department on an unpaid placement for nine months, gaining valuable experience related to my studies. It was a key step in building my HR career and gave me important exposure to a professional HR environment. Truly grateful that UL offers work placement opportunities.

What impact did your co-op placement have on your future career?

Like many new graduates, I faced the frustrating challenge of needing experience to get a job but needing a job to gain experience. My placement in Kilkenny County Council’s HR department gave me valuable hands-on experience and a strong foundation to launch my career. It also provided real examples to highlight in interviews, making me a more competitive candidate for graduate roles.
 

What piece of advice would you give to students going on co-op now?

I would encourage co-op students to immerse themselves 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. Students who bring a hardworking and positive attitude will reap the rewards. Enjoy it!