The Employability Award

Our colleagues in the Career Development Centre share more information about the Employability Award and how it can help prepare you for entering the Irish workforce.

What is the Employability Award?

The University of Galway Employability Award recognises what you have learned and the skills you have developed through work and extra-curricular activities. The Award is designed to prepare you directly for the job market by:

  • Helping you recognise and develop your employability skills through workshops and events
  • Highlighting your work experience and leadership roles
  • Showcasing what you can offer to employers

There are five parts to the Award:

  • Attending an Employability Workshop
  • Recording 40 hours of self-sourced work experience
  • Attending a Skills Workshop
  • Attending a Careers Event
  • Updating your CV & completing an online practice interview

How Students Can Get Involved

Students can find out more information on the Career Development Centre’s website and sign up in YourSpace under 'Awards'. For those who are passionate about sustainability, they can check out the Employability Award – Sustainability Pathway here.

We have designed the award to be easily completed alongside your studies. It is flexible and can be completed in your own time throughout the year. Aside from the 40 hours of work experience, which you may have already completed, the award will only take about 6-8 hours to complete.

"I’m incredibly grateful to have received the Employability Award from the University of Galway. The workshops I attended, like Elevator Pitch, ChatGPT for CV and Job Search, and Storytelling for Interviews, were not just helpful, but game-changing. They gave me a clear understanding of the Irish job market and boosted my confidence. Thanks to the skills I gained, I secured a Software Engineering offer after completing my Master's in Information Systems Management.

I wholeheartedly recommend this program to any student – it really made a huge difference for me."

Aslesha Bhandari

The Benefits

Our two strategic partners KPMG and Boston Scientific provide invaluable support to help us run this award to help you enhance your employability. The skills events are delivered by employers such as Regeneron, Fidelity, Lidl and many others, and can give students the chance to build their network and give themselves a competitive edge.

This award encourages you to participate fully in university life, gain experience and develop your employability skills. It will help you stand out from the crowd in the job market and is included on the Diploma Supplement, which you receive alongside your degree following graduation. You also receive a certificate and digital badge which you can include on LinkedIn.

"The Employability Award from the University of Galway played a much important role in preparing me for the Irish workplace. The most important part was learning essential skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are critical when looking for a job. Key findings from the program included how to prepare a strong CV, how the job application process goes, and succeed in interviews. These experiences gave me the confidence I needed to pursue my career in Ireland. Overall, this award was an important aspect in helping me develop strong employability skills.


Big Thanks to University of Galway."

Lukman Sidi