TheCity

Tag: jobs

  • A Graduate’s Story: Life After College

    A Graduate’s Story: Life After College

    After slaving away in college for three or four years most of us shiver at the thought of not finding a job in our respective fields. We spoke to Ruth (21), a recent DCU graduate about the real struggles of finding work as a newly qualified journalist in Ireland.

    Did you think it would be as difficult as it is proving to be to find a job?

    No, I didn’t think it would be as hard. Obviously I didn’t expect to walk into a full-time job, but I thought I might at least get an internship or even a graduate programme to begin with … but even those seem hard to come by. I’m working in retail at the moment and I hope to move back to Dublin next year as it is the best place for someone in my field to find work.

    Did you feel ready to start work in the area you hold a degree in?

    I think I was ready to start working in journalism because I felt I had acquired the relevant skills to succeed in my profession. My course covered all elements of journalism and it was possible to choose classes based on your preferences.

    Do you feel you had enough experience and skills from your course to pursue a job in this field?

    I felt I had learned most of what I needed to know, and though I gained practical journalism experience outside of college, I felt the course itself was lacking a little in practical experience. I had to complete just eight weeks of placement which is a relatively  short space of time in the grand scheme of things. After all, the best way to learn is by doing. I would also have liked the chance to specialise in a particular area of journalism.

     

    So, have you applied for internships or have you applied for all types of jobs in journalism?

    I applied for every job that came up, from internships to full time contract positions.  The majority of employers wanted applicants with a number of years’ experience, but how do you gain experience if they won’t hire you?

    Image: Jennifer McDonald
    Image: Jennifer McDonald

    Do you feel pressure to get a job in order to stay skilled?

    I definitely feel a small amount of pressure to get a job in my field, but I am only out of college a couple of weeks so I can afford a little more time to find the right position.

     

  • Smartphones are about to get a lot smarter

    Smartphones are about to get a lot smarter

    Image by Saad Faruque via Flickr
    Image by Saad Faruque via Flickr

    As computers get smarter, faster and more compact we often find ourselves wondering: how much further can we push this technology?

    The singularity is a theoretical instance during which artificial intelligence will surpasses human intelligence and bring about radical change in human nature. While this notion seems closer to science fiction than science fact, recent breakthroughs in computer processing show computers that can mimic the human brain.

    In a statement last week, technology specialists Qualcomm announced they were making headway in relation to their “biologically-inspired” processor that is modelled on real-life neurons.

    “Instead of preprograming behaviours and outcomes with a lot of code, we’ve developed a suite of software tools that enable devices to learn as they go and get feedback from their environment,” states Samir Kumar, director of business development at Qualcomm.

    The tech giant has recently set up operations in Cork creating 100 digital IT security positions and has expressed interest in setting up a research and development wing, which could lead to up to 150 more jobs.

    Qualcomm have already built a robot which uses this ground-breaking technology. The machine learns by means of a reward system. If the machine preforms a task correctly a “good robot” message is sent.

    The companies “neuro-inspired” chips will find their way into robots, vision systems, brain implants and smartphones. They are designed to be massively parallel, reprogrammable, and capable of cognitive tasks such as classification and prediction.

    The ultimate aim is for users to be able to train their devices. The use of this technology in cell phones opens up the possibility for a customised user experience for each individual.

    The enabling of devices to see and perceive the world as humans do is a goal that Qualcomm feels is realistically within reach. “A major pillar of Zeroth processor function is striving to replicate the efficiency with which our senses and our brain communicate information,” said Kumar.

    Other companies such as IBM and Google are also investing millions into the field of cognitive computing. Last year Google unveiled a “neural network” that taught itself how to identify cats after being exposed to YouTube videos.

    Earlier this month IBM announced a collaborative research initiative with four leading universities. The study seeks to develop a system which can learn, reason and help human experts make complex decisions.

    “I believe that cognitive systems technologies will make it possible to connect people and computers in new ways so that–collectively–they can act more intelligently than any person, group, or computer has ever done before,” said Thomas Malone, Director of the MIT Centre for Collective Intelligence, in a press release.

    What will come of this research and how will it affect the average user’s virtual experience? Only time will tell. In the mean time we will have to make do with our not-so-brainy smart phones.

  • Abandon Ship! Students on emigration

    Abandon Ship! Students on emigration

    University College Cork’s recent study of emigration trends in Ireland last week revealed that nearly two thirds of emigrants had a third-level qualification. It also showed that half of those emigrating were doing so as a matter of choice, leaving a full-time job they had here in Ireland.

    This provided some food for thought for experts and journalists who lamented the ‘brain drain’ as a tragic consequence of our crumbling economy. The claim that people are leaving unwillingly as a matter of necessity is now being called into question.

    Perhaps the mass exodus has more to do with the quality of jobs available as opposed to the quantity. To put it simply, young Irish people don’t want to settle for what they see as menial jobs. But in this climate, the pressure is even greater to take what you’re given and be grateful. I went in search of answers from some final year college students.

    ImageHilary Pidgeon, 22

    “When I graduate I’m probably going to emigrate. Maybe not permanently, I’d probably move away for a couple of years. There’s so much more opportunities in other countries like America and Canada. Some of my friends are doing jobs that are widely available in Ireland, but if they want to go far in their career they’d have to emigrate. I think it’s really bad. You’ve got your family here and your friends here. You’re basically cutting off the life you’ve built up here for twenty something years”

    ImageLouise McLoughlin, 22

    “I think I’m going to head straight to London after I finish. My boyfriend has already emigrated there, so that’s one reason but secondly I think there’s just a lot more opportunity especially for someone studying media. I think the majority of my friends are going to stay for the next few years at least but I think if something better is offered somewhere else they’re going to take it. People should do what’s best for them. It’s not our job to hold the country together. Why should be stick around just to stop a boat from sinking?”

    ImageTessa Flemming, 23

     “When I graduate I know I probably won’t get work in my area of study so I’m just going out with a completely open mind, to experience life rather  than find a career straight away. I really wanted to learn Spanish this year, I was thinking of going to South America or Spain and just live in another country for a year. I see myself as a wanderer, so any opportunities that are presented to me I’ll definitely say yes. I think people don’t really want to leave, but they’re doing crappy jobs at the moment that don’t reflect their skills. I really don’t want to happen to me. ”

    ImageBarry Lennon, 21.

    “Emigration isn’t really on my radar, but I wouldn’t mind moving abroad for a while to grow as person.  I mean if push comes to shove and there is a better offer abroad perhaps, even just to get a different experience. I probably would like to return to Ireland depending on how things go. Maybe when I get my retirement and I can settle down with the wife. I’ll sell the house and buy a nice retirement home somewhere in west Cork. I think it’s bad though, the country is investing in these people only for them to go away.”

    ImageSean Carroll, 21

    “I’ll  head to the west coast of America for a year, hopefully with friends. I’m  getting a degree in marketing, and I don’t have any interest in working in Ireland right now with the recession strangling any chance I have!  We pride ourselves here in Ireland for having such an educated workforce, but people are getting educated here and then they’re leaving. Obviously people don’t want to leave their family and friends behind but if you’ve studied for four or five years in a particular field, it seems like a waste to stay here. If you have a degree in engineering but you have to work full time in Centra you’re not going to stay around.”