The Irish Business Employers Organisation (IBEC) has launched an initiative called GradLink to help graduates from any year find a job and get real life work experience. The Gradlink program is open to graduates from any year. e.g. 1989 , 2001 , 2005, 2010 etc There are two options for graduates who are interested in doing the Gradlink internships: (A) For graduates who have been on the live register for three months prior to starting the gradlink placement they can keep their social welfare payments for the duration of the internship. ( The internship can last for a maximum of 9 months.) (B) If a graduate is not on the live register they can also do the Gradlink program. Jobseeker's allowance ( your dole) is means tested, and many graduates may receive quite a small payment if anything at all depending on a number of factors. So even if you never sign up for social welfare benefits or receive any dole you can still start doing an internship advertised on the Gradlink site as soon as you finish your degree or Masters. However you will be doing the internship in a purely voluntary capacity as you will not be paid by the company and you will not be receiving a social welfare payment. (Again this can last for a maximum of 9 months). Several graduates who have started unpaid internships with Gradlink companies and who have performed well on their placements have been offered contracts of employment. Other graduates who have done a Gradlink placement and who have then gone for interviews with other companies have received job offers as they have built up experience with a company in a particular sector and shown initiative and drive in doing an unpaid work placement. Companies from across the country have been offering work experience for graduates from all disciplines. Internships on the website include engineering, human resources, manufacturing, health and safety, business planning, financial services, information / communication/ technology, environmental services, management, healthcare, project management, quality engineering, sales and PR. To view the internships and work experience opportunities currently on offer for graduates and for more information, please visit the Gradlink website on www.ibec.ie/gradlink. Find Out More: www.ibec.ie/gradlink.