Ready Steady Work (RSW) is an Employability Skills Development Programme specifically designed to support students who have access to the MTU Disability Support Service (DSS). We aim to work with our employer partners to provide tangible opportunities for eligible students who may face obstacles in gaining or maintaining employment opportunities.

 

Employer Collaboration and Impactful Engagement through Ready Steady Work.

By participating in this initiative, our employer partners proactively contribute to breaking down barriers by providing students with the chance to gain real-world exposure through activities such as:

• Job Shadowing
• Site tours
• Summer Internships
• Work Placements

Engaging with the programme not only helps develop a diverse talent pool and provides a talent pipeline during a time which many call ‘a war for talent’. It also fosters an inclusive and supportive work environment, which enhances company culture and brings a fresh innovative perspective to the workforce.

Through their involvement, our employer partners make a lasting impact on the professional growth of students with disabilities, while also benefiting from the unique skills and experiences these individuals bring to the workplace.

RSW staff are there to provide support and advice on best practice related to inclusive application and onboarding strategies.  We also support students and employers during internships and placements with check-in sessions to evaluate student progress.

 

Why do students need this programme?

Students with access to the DSS can encounter additional obstacles to gaining and maintaining work placement or employment opportunities such as:  academic transcripts that don’t reflect their real potential, a physical landscape not designed for their needs, psychometric tests not designed for a neurodiverse mind or narrative based interviews that don’t assess their true strengths.

Many have less social capital, and limited opportunity to participate in part-time work while studying which hampers their exposure to the world of work to network and build connections. Most importantly, the lack of insights into the working world inhibits their ability to hear the language of employment and experience their value in it which is crucial to developing self-confidence and self-worth.

The RSW team provide comprehensive work readiness training. We also work to empower students on articulating professional conversations on disclosure.

 

If you would like to know more about the programme or want to get in touch about offering an opportunity for a student, we would love to hear from you.

Email rsw@mtu.ie

Olga Mitchell, MTU Ready Steady Work Officer- 021 4335997

Aisling O' Riordan, MTU Ready Steady Work Project Coordinator