Interview with Aoife Reynolds, HR Consultant for Intact, responsible for graduate recruitment.

Aoife talks about the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme and what graduates can expect.

Intact is a software company based in Ireland and the UK. Its headquarters are in Dundalk, Co Louth with an operational office in Cork and UK headquarters in Hemel Hempstead.

Intact plan to hire graduates in 2023 across various roles.

The company has seen growing demand for its enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business management software. The team has grown to almost 300 people across Ireland and the UK.

Their flagship product, Intact iQ, is next-generation ERP software. It’s technology stack includes Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Azure SQL, .Net Core, C#, React.js , Xamarin.

Intact was listed in the 2022 “Great Place to Work Awards”.

What is the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme?

Our Graduate Programme was launched in February 2022, offering a permanent contract to all graduates joining the company.

In the first 12 months, each graduate is guided through a Technical, Professional and Leadership skills training programme. This programme helps graduates to learn about the company and our products, and helps them to develop the technical and non-technical skills they will need to have a successful career at Intact.

Our graduate training programme is divided into four key pillars.

The Technical pillar provides graduates with knowledge of how our software is built and the technologies we use to build Intact software.

The Professional pillar places graduates within their teams and business units to learn about the company and the work that their business unit is responsible for. Most of their first 12 months will be spent in this environment.

The Product pillar helps graduates to learn about our product range. For software developers, this training provides an in-depth look at the functionality and technical aspects of Intact’s products.

The Personal pillar provides graduates with workshops on soft skills training, leadership skills, and professional conduct in the workplace.

When do graduates start?

Our 2023 graduates roles will start at the end of September 2023.

Can you describe the interview process for the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme?

The interview process for graduates is very straightforward.

There will be two rounds, both conducted virtually.

The first round is a short conversation to get to know the candidate and whether they will be a good cultural fit at Intact.

The final round for technical roles will be an interview which some technical questions.

We aim to get back to candidates as soon as possible after interviewing.

What makes a candidate a good fit for the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme?

At Intact we aim to hire graduates with the right attitude.

We have a structured interview process where we look for people who fit Intact’s core values.

Our core values focus on collaboration, along with development and growth, to ensure we hire people who will work as part of our team with a passion for what they do and a willingness to learn and grow.

Does Intact offer remote or hybrid working?

Currently our graduates work on-site 4 days a week for the first six months. This helps them to receive the mentoring that they need, and to get to know their team.

It also makes it easy for them to learn from their colleagues and ask questions about the products they are working on. In addition, it helps us to build a great culture within our office.

Does Intact offer sponsorship to graduates?

We are looking into ways to sponsor graduates after their Stamp 1G visa expires, to provide them with the security they need around their employment. Intact in the UK is a sponsoring company and this is something we want to do for graduates in Ireland also.

What advice do you give to graduates applying to Intact?

My advice is to be yourself during the interview process. We are looking for personality fit just as much as technical skills.

It’s important to research Intact in advance of an interview so you are up to date with what the company does.

Regarding your CV, it’s important to have a good opening personal profile which gives an overview of who you are. For graduates, this first line of their CV is very important and will help them to stand out.

Where can candidates find out more about the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme?

Graduates can find out more about the Intact Ignite Graduate Programme at www.intactsoftware.com/graduate-programme.

Our online brochure can be viewed here.

We are also active across social media with the latest news and events about the company.