Graduate programme: ‘My work placement provided an excellent transition’

Hi! I’m Leah, I’m from Kilkenny and I studied process and chemical engineering in UCC.
I applied to the Irish Distillers internship programme through college for my work placement. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on placement and saw first-hand the success of the graduate programme. I applied for this the following year and returned after finishing university.
We’re very lucky – there’s a lot of really interesting and exciting projects going on in the Midleton Distillery. The graduate programme provides a brilliant opportunity for us to learn and grow as people. Everyone is very friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. It makes the learning experience much more enjoyable in the early stages of my career.
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My work placement provided an excellent transition from college to the industry. The team I worked with was incredibly supportive, ensuring I fully understood how the company operates and helping me to reach my full potential throughout the placement.
I would love to stay with Irish Distillers when the programme is over and will keep an eye out for opportunities with the engineering team here. I’ve really enjoyed my time working on projects in production and this is where I envision my career path heading.
Look into the company’s history, culture and what we do before applying. Be yourself and take everything you can from the experience.