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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.

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. 

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

I studied Business at the University of Limerick from 2015 to 2019, majoring in Accounting & Finance. After graduating, I joined Grant Thornton in Limerick, working in the audit department. Over four and a half years, I was promoted to Assistant Manager before moving to Abbott Labs in Galway in July 2024, where I now work as a General Ledger Accountant.

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

In 2018, I completed my co-op placement at EY in Dublin, where I worked in their Financial Services Tax department, specializing in aircraft leasing.

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

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, similar to having work experience in a shop or pub. It shows you can work well with others and adapt to a professional environment. While it doesn’t guarantee job performance, it certainly increases the likelihood compared to someone without such experience.

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

For accounting students, the best way to secure a graduate job is to excel during your co-op and aim to return to the same place for a training contract. Show that you are eager to learn and that you are a pleasant person to work with. Employers prefer to hire someone they enjoy working with daily.