selfie of woman with glasses

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.

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 in work and with her friends. 

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

I am a mammy of two living in Limerick. Born and bred, I never went too far from my fair city aside from my co-op in Dublin, a J1 in San Francisco and a year in Australia! Currently now living, working and happily married in County Limerick.

I did an Undergraduate in Business Studies (2003-2007) with a major in HR and Masters in Work and Organisation Behaviour (2010-2011). 

I have had a career to date that I am very proud of. I have very much focused on working and developing my career in HR and have more or less stayed on that path working in diverse industries that have impacted how I operate as a professional. I currently work as a HR Business Partner for Three Ireland. It is my favourite role to date as it challenges me and gives me great satisfaction to positively impact the employee experience. Three are also a great organisation and I work with the best group of people.

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

I worked in BT (British Telecom in Grand Canal Plaza) in Dublin, there was about 12 of us students from UL so it was an unbelievable experience. I completed the placement in January to August 2005. I got great exposure and experience working with an amazing group of HR business partners and in that time there was a bit of a re-org across the HR team so it was great to be involved. It gave me a taste of life in Dublin and I still reflect fondly on my time there with an amazing group of friends!

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

I currently work in telco, so probably more impactful than I would have thought. It definitely help boost me into the job market when I finished college, it stands to you having corporate experience exiting college.

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

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. When you are on the professional working market its highly advantageous to have it on the CV.. it really helps! I would recommend UL to students alone just to be part of the co-op programme. The campus is amazing and all that but you cant really emphasise how much the work experience stands to you not to mention the experience you get for those 9 months! Oh to be back 20 years ago again and re-living it all – for a week only though!!