Data Analytics at SERC Leads Brendan to Dream Job

Plans to work in the United States got off to a false start for a young graduate but an intensive Data Analytics Graduate Programme at South Eastern Regional College, part of the Digital Futures initiative funded by the Department for the Economy, helped get plans back on track.

Brendan McCarthy (23) from Dunmurry, had secured a J1 visa and took off to USA in February 2020 with plans to experience life Stateside as well checking out career opportunities, but made the decision to come home when Covid struck.

Brendan said, “I had only been in the United States a couple of months when I had a short window to decide if I should stay or go and in retrospect it was the right decision to move back home.

Brendan who graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a BSc in Business Management in 2019 said, “I had been doing part time casual work to save for travel to the United States after graduation and when I came back, I continued with that to keep myself busy, whilst applying for jobs and revising plans for the future. I researched going back to study a Master’s in Data Science but then I discovered the Data Analytics Graduate Programme at SERC and felt it would give me the best option. The programme offered a offered the chance to gain an industry-recognised qualification, a weekly training allowance of £150 per week along with the opportunity of a placement to apply newly developed skills and knowledge. It was a no brainer to apply, and I was delighted to have secured a place on the programme which would complement my degree.

He added, “The course was challenging, and it was hard working online, sometimes for 9 hours a day, but there was a lot of support from the lecturers, and I knew the end outcome would give me the results I needed to move on. The course also included two weeks on developing soft skills such as attending mock interviews, resilience and preparation for work.

Brendan concluded, “I have no doubt that the programme helped me secure my new role with Datactics. The best part of my new role is that following six months in Belfast, I will get the chance to spend 12 months working in New York and exploring the North American market for the company. For me, I feel I have come full circle, but in the end I am getting to where I want to be, it just took at little longer and in the meantime, I have gained experience, a qualification and a career.”

SERC are recruiting participants for a new Digital Marketing Graduate Programme commencing 12 April 2020 for 12 weeks. Places are limited. Apply online at serc.ac.uk. Contact Debbie Scott for further information at dscott@serc.ac.uk.

Caption: Data Leads to Dream Job: An intensive Data Analytics Graduate Programme at South Eastern Regional College, part of the Digital Futures initiative funded by the Department for the Economy, helped get plans back on track for  Brendan McCarthy (23) from Dunmurry who has landed a dream job with Datactics. SERC are recruiting participants for a new Digital Marketing Graduate Programme commencing 12 April 2020 for 12 weeks. Places are limited. Apply online at serc.ac.uk. Contact Debbie Scott for further information at dscott@serc.ac.uk.