Tech firms to give CAO advice through Smart Futures online careers fair
Sam Afoullouss (17) from St Andrew's College; Paul Sweetman, director of ICT Ireland; and Lianne Murray (16) of St Andrew's College

Tech firms to give CAO advice through Smart Futures online careers fair

23 Jan 2012

Representatives from tech companies such as Microsoft and Cisco will showcase ICT career opportunities to students on the Smart Futures online careers fair which runs 23-26 January.

The site will offer students, parents and guidance counsellors the chance to talk directly to people working in companies such as Microsoft, SAP, CPL, Ericsson, Cisco and HP.

Representatives will be available to talk between 6pm and 8pm each evening to tell students what it’s like to work in technology and to give advice on how to get into that area.

People can post questions in advance, join live sessions and view an archive of questions and answers from the event.

The online careers fair is part of the wider Smart Futures campaign co-ordinated by ICT Ireland, the Irish Software Association and STEPS with support from Discover Science and Engineering. It aims to show young people the opportunities a qualification in technology can offer.

Other upcoming events from the initiative include a transition-year work experience programme and a video series to promote the technology industry, which employs 84,000 people in Ireland.

“The technology industry is a booming area of growth in Ireland at the moment and it’s a crucial sector for the future economic growth in Ireland,” said Paul Sweetman, director of ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association.

“Bright, innovative and skilled graduates being available is imperative if we want to keep our competitive advantage. The technology opportunities for young people in Ireland are rewarding and viable so I would urge anyone who has an interest in creating apps or games, software engineering, digital marketing, telecommunications or computer programming to log onto www.smartfutures.ie.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for second-level students from around the whole country to hear what it is like to work in these industries from the people who are already doing so,” he said.

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