Vodafone
As Vodafone celebrates its 15th year of hosting a graduate programme in Ireland, the company is eager to welcome 40 graduates who are enthusiastic about innovation, teamwork, and technology. Those chosen will have the opportunity to hone their interests and skills through work experience in one of seven specialised graduate streams of Vodafone: technology, data, business management, marketing communications, digital design, corporate security, and finance.
During their tenure of 18 months, graduates will complete two rotations within their chosen stream. Besides a competitive remuneration package, graduates have the liberty of customising their personal benefits. This package comprises a blended working model, including 20 days of overseas work, access to both physical and mental health facilities through both virtual and on-site Vodafone Wellness Centres, a day off on birthdays, exemption from phone bills, exclusive discounts for friends and family, plus three extra days off for charity work.
Vodafone’s hybrid working model ensures that participants spend 60% of their time from home, and the remaining in the office. Applicants need to submit their CVs, take part in virtual game-based tests, participate in a video interview, and finally attend an assessment centre, either in-person or virtually, as per their preference. The last date for applications for the 2025 Vodafone’s graduate programme is in November.
MSD
MSD Ireland’s three-year graduate scheme enables graduates to get a real taste of all facets of biopharma innovation and manufacturing from their desired site within MSD Ireland’s network. The team at MSD Ireland seeks talented graduates from science, engineering, and technology backgrounds for the 2025 enrolment, with 30 vacancies available.
Applications open in September, followed by a competency-based interview and a psychometric evaluation. Graduates are offered a competitive salary with yearly increments over the course of the three-year programme. Additional benefits include a hybrid work model, health and wellbeing resources, along with numerous networking, mentoring, and coaching opportunities throughout the programme.
Accenture
Accenture provides five graduate schemes in analytics, consulting, cybersecurity, software engineering, and technology transformation. Graduates will partake in client projects, with continuous training, guidance, and practical experience.
The programme boasts a competitive wage in line with market rates as well as comprehensive benefits. These benefits encompass private health insurance, paid overtime, substantial annual vacation time, paid time off for volunteer work, financial support for further studies, study leave, and a pension scheme with company contributions.
The firm is seeking students with a keen interest and fervour for understanding how technology and data are revolutionising the ways in which businesses and the world operate. The programme is accessible to a wide range of academic disciplines, extending to business, sustainability, analytics, technology, engineering, life sciences, and many others. The procedure for application involves four steps: an online submission form, a game-based online examination, a virtual assessment centre, and a face-to-face interview with one of the executive team members.
Irish Distillers, a sector of the global Pernod Ricard conglomerate, is esteemed for the crafting of several of the world’s leading Irish whiskies, such as Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Range and Powers.
Irish Distillers facilitates the early career progression of graduates and young professionals via two core programmes – the Irish Distillers Graduate Programme and the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme.
The former allows individuals to work for a span of two years across corporate sites in Dublin and Cork, offering chances to work in varied departments including environmental, engineering, HR, supply chain, communications, strategy, and analytics.
The latter operates with the purpose of cultivating brand ambassadors for Jameson all over the world. Enrolled individuals allocate three years to working in both domestic and international markets, aiming to promote the brand whilst garnering invaluable experience in marketing, sales, and brand development.
The company maintains that, across both programmes, graduates bolster the skills and technical expertise required to advance in their professional and personal lives.
KPMG, acknowledged as one of the eminent “big four” accounting firms, intends to onboard roughly 450 graduates for positions in audit and assurance, tax consulting, deal advisory, consulting and KPMG law. The firm is eager to appeal to ambitious students hailing from sectors such as business/accounting, Stem, the arts, and law.
KPMG promises a host of thrilling roles and the chance to work across almost every business dimension. For instance, the firm recently unveiled 200 fresh roles for its newly established Dublin EU AI centre.
The company favours a blended work model which combines in-office work and remote working arrangements. The online application form is used to gather information about academic achievements, career drive, and notable accomplishments.
The 2025 Graduate Programme is now accepting applications, with the submission period drawing to an end around mid-October. The company has noted that subsequent evaluations will take place shortly after the application period concludes. Although the starting salary is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to meet the standards and meet the competition of the graduate market. Every year, KPMG studies the trends to determine the remuneration. You can visit KPMG’s website for additional information.
Deloitte provides a range of graduate programmes in several areas of business and it is an excellent platform for those manufacturing a career within the company. These programmes consist of eight different sectors: auditing and assurance, actuarial, reward and analytics, consulting, finance advisory, risk advisory, tax, and technology. Deloitte seeks out employees who possess qualities of inquisitiveness, imagination and those with a broad mindset. The company encourages applications from individuals from various fields including business, engineering, technology, arts, science, maths, and law.
Eligibility criteria for the programme include a 2.1 honours degree or above, high self-motivation and problem-solving skills. Applicants should also be comfortable working in a hybrid environment which includes client sites, the office, and home. Prior to their interviews, candidates are invited to a pre-interview event for interaction and networking opportunities with the graduates and talent throughout the business. The company assures competitive perks including health care, pension, leave, and support for professional qualifications.
Lidl offers a Graduate Management Programme that is comprised of an intensive 18-month module series designed to give graduates a comprehensive understanding of the business’. The programme comes complete with a tailored training plan and imparts hands-on experience in both retail stores and warehouses for a holistic understanding of the company’s functioning. Salient features of the programme include a yearly salary of €42,513 on a prorated basis, 20 days annual leave, and up to two days of flexible, remote working every week.
To qualify, candidates must have or expect to achieve a 2.1 honours degree at level eight, have a full driving licence and be willing to travel or change their location within Ireland as required.
Every September, applications for the programme commence. EY, with the central belief that graduate recruitment is critical for client service, annually avails over 300 graduate roles in its 2025 graduate initiative across various specialties. The array of roles spans from assurance, tax, and consultation to specific sectors such as AI, data analytics, sustainable developments, technological advancements, and legal services. The company seeks out ambitious, inquisitive, and forward-looking students from diverse academic avenues, which include but are not limited to accounting, software engineering, environmental sciences, machine learning, business, and law. EY’s flexible working scheme, EY Hybrid, is available to all staff, including those in the graduate programme. This provides the liberty to perform tasks from client’s premises, at home, or at any of EY’s six locations across Ireland. To make the student application process more seamless, EY introduced online assessments this year, which comprises of three phases: an online application, an online assessment, and a one-stage interview with the leadership of the selected graduate program. The application window closes on the 16th of October, and competitive salaries, comparable to the market range, are offered to starters.
Contrastingly, EirGrid has an annual intake of over 25 graduates into its programme across varied disciplines. The two-year initiative involves three rotations in different specialties and a six-week introduction programme with access to mentorship and friendly support. The company recruits general and business graduates, as well as graduates in economics, finance, IT, cybersecurity, data analytics, and engineering. The application journey starts with an online submission, after which a video application detailing aspirations to work with EirGrid is requested. Afterward, there is a logical, numerical, and verbal reasoning psychometric testing. A competency-based interview constitutes the second stage, after which the status of the application is communicated to the candidates. As with EY, PwC also follows a similar pattern.
PwC extends a diverse range of graduate programs across assurance, tax, risk assurance, and consulting, offering a variety of job opportunities for those interested in joining the firm. These positions are available in multiple Irish cities, such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Wexford, and Kilkenny. PwC openly welcomes graduates from all areas of study and provides them with the resources they need to grow their skills and careers in their chosen sectors. However, it’s important to note that there are certain qualifications required for application, one being that candidates must be in the final year of their graduate or postgraduate studies and predicted to secure at least a second class degree.
In order to help new graduates thrive, the PwC graduate programme blends structured training and mentorship with valuable real-world experience. Over time, as the graduate’s skills and knowledge begin to develop, the firm rewards this progress with promotions and corresponding salary increases. Graduates receive a total compensation package which, in addition to their salary, reflects payment of examination fees, academic support, recognition for achievements, and a range of additional benefits.
ESB, the utility company, is preparing to recruit approximately 100 graduates in September 2025 to participate in its recognised graduate programme. It is fostering opportunities within its umbrella, which includes Electric Ireland and ESB Networks, in several disciplines such as engineering (electrical, mechanical, civil, and quantity surveying), commercial, HR, finance and IT.
ESB utilises a “smart working” concept that allows for a flexible and remote working environment. Successful recruits may blend working remotely or at a ‘smart’ location within jurisdictional boundaries with on-site collaboration, dependent on an agreement with their manager. Applications from candidates to join the 2025 programme will open in the present month and close in October.
ESB offers a competitive benefits package, not limited to access to an array of staff supports. Examples include ESB insurance schemes, electricity discount offers with Electric Ireland, and participation in social and sporting activities.
Lastly, Aldi’s graduate programme operates as a one-year initiative, during which selected candidates are groomed to become full-fledged area managers. Each year, the company aims to recruit approximately 100 area managers across the UK and Ireland. However, as the business continues to grow, this figure has the potential to increase.
Interested individuals aiming to join the programme ought to possess, or be progressing towards obtaining a degree classification of a 2:1 or above. They are further required to hold a comprehensive driving licence and legal ability to hold employment in Ireland.
The company conducts a comprehensive five-stage enrolment procedure that involves an online application, psychological testing via the web, video submission, a collective interview, and concludes with a personal interview. The organisation emphasises that the rigour of the interviewing process aligns with the responsibilities and expectations of the position.
The starting remuneration for the role is set at €69,975, with gradual increases culminating at €114,650. Additionally, successful applicants are entitled to a company car at no personal cost, and five weeks of annual holiday leave.