DUBLIN, Ireland, May 1, 2014: Abbott employee Niall Fitzgerald has been announced as the Graduate Employee of the Year 2014 at the gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards 2014, which took place at a gala dinner in the Mansion House last night.
The Graduate Employee of the Year award is a significant achievement, awarded to the graduate who has demonstrated enthusiasm, initiative and skill, as well as added significant value and consistently contributed to the business success of their employer.
Niall Fitzgerald, from Ballingarry in Limerick, first joined Abbott in 2010 when he secured an internship placement at Abbott’s vascular facility in Clonmel while undertaking his degree. After demonstrating exceptional performance, Niall was asked to return for a second Internship before being awarded the cross divisional, cross functional Intern of the Year award. He then secured a place in Abbott’s highly selective Professional Development Programme (PDP) in July 2012, after graduating with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Limerick.
Abbott’s PDP programme consists of four assignments over a two-year period. Every assignment is identified by a business need and is six months in duration. Each participant has the opportunity to complete a unique combination of assignments ensuring they gain a sound understanding of the Abbott organisation whilst developing their management, technical and interpersonal skills. The programme is tailored to an individual's talents and interests, and provides a rich and challenging experience that is supported by a dedicated set of mentors.
“I am delighted to receive this recognition from gradireland. I applied for Abbott’s professional development programme due to its award-winning reputation, the variety of positions offered during the programme and the opportunity to work overseas for six months. To date, I have completed three of my four rotations and I am currently on assignment as a Technical Specialist in Abbott Diagnostics Longford, where I am working on new product monitoring process,” said Niall Fitzgerald, Engineering PDP, Abbott. “From the outset, my experience at Abbott has been one of contribution rather than observation, as I was given increased responsibility and opportunities to develop my skills."
“I’m from an agricultural background and therefore gained valuable life lessons and skills such as diligence, problem solving and attention to detail, which I now apply now in my professional life. A career in engineering is guaranteed to be challenging, but very rewarding. It offers great opportunities for development and diversification into other areas.”
"Dedicated people with the willingness to learn quickly and adapt to a dynamic healthcare environment are of paramount importance to Abbott. Niall is an employee of exceptional quality and we are delighted that he has been acknowledged by gradireland," said Margaret Morrissey, Country HR Director, Abbott Ireland.
“At Abbott, we are committed to helping people realise their full potential with training, mentoring, tuition reimbursement, and leadership development programmes that provide support and extensive advancement opportunities. We start identifying high-potential employees from day one, and Niall is already taking the right steps to carve out such a future for himself,” continued Morrissey.
A few hundred graduates applied for this highly coveted professional development programme last year, and 20 percent of previous Abbott Ireland interns have been granted a place in the programme, commencing summer 2014.
Abbott was also awarded the Most Popular Graduate Recruiter in Ireland in the Science category for the second year in a row, which is voted for by students in colleges and universities around the country. Abbott also secured a Silver Award in the Best Work Experience or Internship Programme category for its internship programme for third-level students. Abbott was also named in the top 10 of Ireland’s leading graduate employers.
Abbott in Ireland prides itself on being an employer of choice and the company has received numerous local, national and international accolades for workplace excellence including:
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